Three-dimensional rendering preview of laser-finished garments

ABSTRACT

A tool allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs in three dimensions before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. Based on a laser input file with a pattern, a laser will burn the pattern onto apparel. With the tool, the user will be able to create, make changes, and view images of a design, in real time, before burning by a laser. The tool can be accessed or executes via a Web browser.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application 62/877,830,filed Jul. 23, 2019, which is incorporated by reference along with allother references cited in this application.

DESCRIPTION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparel finishing and, morespecifically, the use of a laser in the finishing of garments,especially denim including jeans, shirts, shorts, jackets, vests, andskirts, to obtain a faded, distressed, washed, or worn finish orappearance.

In 1853, during the California Gold Rush, Levi Strauss, a 24-year-oldGerman immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply ofdry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother's NewYork dry goods business. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, Mr.Strauss realized that the miners and prospectors (called the “fortyniners”) needed pants strong enough to last through the hard workconditions they endured. So, Mr. Strauss developed the now familiarjeans which he sold to the miners. The company he founded, Levi Strauss& Co., still sells jeans and is the most widely known jeans brand in theworld. Levi's is a trademark of Levi Strauss & Co. or LS&Co.

Though jeans at the time of the Gold Rush were used as work clothes,jeans have evolved to be fashionably worn everyday by men and women,showing up on billboards, television commercials, and fashion runways.Fashion is one of the largest consumer industries in the U.S. and aroundthe world. Jeans and related apparel are a significant segment of theindustry.

As fashion, people are concerned with the appearance of their jeans.Many people desire a faded or worn blue jeans look. In the past, jeansbecame faded or distressed through normal wash and wear. The apparelindustry recognized people's desire for the worn blue jeans look andbegan producing jeans and apparel with a variety of wear patterns. Thewear patterns have become part of the jeans style and fashion. Someexamples of wear patterns include combs or honeycombs, whiskers, stacks,and train tracks.

Despite the widespread success jeans have enjoyed, the process toproduce modern jeans with wear patterns takes processing time, hasrelatively high processing cost, and is resource intensive. A typicalprocess to produce jeans uses significant amounts of water, chemicals(e.g., bleaching or oxidizing agents), ozone, enzymes, and pumice stone.For example, it may take about 20 to 60 liters of water to finish eachpair of jeans.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved process for finishing jeansthat reduces environmental impact, processing time, and processingcosts, while maintaining the look and style of traditional finishingtechniques. There is a need for tool to creating and previewing patternson jeans before laser finishing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tool allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview thesedesigns in three dimensions before manufacture. Software and lasers areused in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or otherdesign. Based on a laser input file with a pattern, a laser will burnthe pattern onto apparel. With the tool, the user will be able tocreate, make changes, and view images of a design, in real time, beforeburning by a laser. The tool can be accessed or executes via a Webbrowser.

In an implementation, a method includes: providing a garment designtool, accessible via a Web browser or executing in a Web browser, thatshows in a window of the Web browser of a three-dimensional previewimage of a garment design as customized by a user with a finishingpattern; in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user toselect a garment base and upon the user's selection, showing in a windowof the Web browser a first preview image of the selected garmenttemplate; in the garment design tool, providing an option for the userto select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns and upon theuser's selection, showing on a window of the Web browser a secondpreview image of the selected garment template with the selected wearpattern, where each wear pattern is associated with a laser input fileto be used by a laser to produce that wear pattern onto a garment; at aserver, merging a laser input file associated with the selected wearpattern with an image of the selected garment template to generate amerged image; and from the server, receiving the merged image to the Webbrowser, where the garment design tool shows the merged image as thesecond preview image.

The merged image can be generated by: generating an adjusted base imagefrom the image of the selected garment template without the selectedwear pattern; generating a pattern mask based on the laser input fileassociated with the selected wear pattern; for a pixel at a pixellocation of the merged image, obtaining a first contribution for thepixel location of the merged image by combining a first value for apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selectedgarment template without the selected wear pattern; for the pixel at thepixel location of the merged image, obtaining a second contribution atthe pixel location for the merged image by combining a second value fora pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image;combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain acolor value for a pixel at the pixel location for the second previewimage; and using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location inthe merged image.

In an implementation, a method includes: providing a garment design toolthat shows on a computer screen of a three-dimensional preview image ofa garment design as customized by a user with a finishing pattern; inthe garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select agarment base and upon the user's selection, showing on the computerscreen a first preview image of the selected garment template; in thegarment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a firstlevel of wear or a second level of wear; after the first level of wearis selected, showing on the computer screen a second preview image ofthe selected garment template with the first level of wear; and afterthe second level of wear is selected, showing on the computer screen athird preview image of the selected garment template with the secondlevel of wear, where the third preview image includes a first damageasset positioned on the garment template, the damage asset includes ahole, tear, rip, or emerging hole.

The first damage asset can created by: creating a first damage shape andassociating the first damage asset with the first damage shape; based onthe first damage shape, using a laser to create the first damage asseton a fabric; after a postlaser wash of the fabric with first damageasset, capturing an image of the first damage asset on the fabric; andusing the image of the first damage asset in the third preview image.

The three-dimensional preview image can be a three-dimensionalphotorealistic visualization. The three-dimensional photorealisticvisualization can include displaying on a computer screen or in a windowa three-dimensional rendering of a customized garment design (beforemanufacture) as it would appear after a postlaser wash.

U.S. patent applications 62/715,788, filed Aug. 7, 2018; 62/636,108,62/636,107, and 62/636,112, filed Feb. 27, 2018; Ser. No. 15/682,507,filed Aug. 21, 2017; Ser. Nos. 15/841,263 and 15/841,268, filed Dec. 13,2017; and 62/579,863 and 62/579,867, filed Oct. 31, 2017; and Ser. Nos.16/177,387, 16/177,407, and 16/177,412, filed Oct. 31, 2018, areincorporated by reference.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon consideration of the following detailed descriptionand the accompanying drawings, in which like reference designationsrepresent like features throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system for creating, designing,producing apparel products with laser finishing.

FIG. 2 shows a flow for a finishing technique that includes the use of alaser.

FIG. 3 shows a weave pattern for a denim fabric.

FIGS. 4-7 show how the laser alters the color of ring-dyed yarn.

FIG. 8 shows a flow for finishing in two finishing steps and using basetemplates.

FIG. 9 shows multiple base templates and multiple resulting finishedproducts from each of these templates.

FIG. 10 shows a distributed computer network.

FIG. 11 shows a computer system that can be used in laser finishing.

FIG. 12 shows a system block diagram of the computer system.

FIGS. 13-14 show examples of mobile devices.

FIG. 15 shows a system block diagram of a mobile device.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a system for creating, designing,producing apparel products with laser finishing.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a specific implementation of a previewtool.

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of a brief tool.

FIG. 19 shows a technique of generating a preview of a finished imageusing a brief tool.

FIG. 20 shows a laser pattern mask that is created from a laser inputfile.

FIG. 21 shows a base image hue saturation lightness adjustment (HSL)layer that is created from the base image.

FIG. 22 shows a technique of creating a masked solid color adjustmentlayer.

FIGS. 23-24 shows examples of two different adjustments for brightpoint.

FIG. 25 shows adjustment of intensity.

FIG. 26 shows an array of images showing the effects of adjustments inbright point and intensity.

FIG. 27 shows a block diagram of a system of generating a preview of alaser-finishing pattern on a garment, such as jeans.

FIG. 28 shows an overall flow for creating a three-dimensional previewfor an apparel product, such as a pair of jeans.

FIGS. 29A-29F show photographs of cutting a garment into pieces.

FIG. 30 shows a system for taking photographs of the garment pieces.

FIGS. 31A-31K show photographs of cut garment pieces and correspondingextracted neutral digital pattern pieces.

FIGS. 32A-32C show extracted shadow neutral pattern pieces. FIG. 32Dshows a shadow neutral texture created using the extracted shadowneutral pattern pieces and a color layer.

FIG. 33A shows a created shadow neutral texture. FIG. 33B shows a frontview of a three-dimensional model, which the shadow neutral texture willbe applied or mapped to.

FIG. 33C shows a result of mapping the shadow neutral texture to thethree-dimensional model. FIG. 33D shows a back or rear view of thethree-dimensional model, which the shadow neutral texture will beapplied or mapped to. FIG. 33E shows a result of mapping the shadowneutral texture to the three-dimensional model.

FIG. 34A shows an example of a simulated light source positioned to aright of and above the garment. FIG. 34B shows an example of a simulatedlight source positioned directly above the garment. FIG. 34C shows anexample of a simulated light source positioned to a left of and abovethe garment.

FIGS. 35A-35E show how a single three-dimensional model can be used withmultiple shadow neutral texture to generate a multiple preview images.

FIG. 36 shows a flow for creating three-dimensional imagery for ane-commerce Web site to sell laser finished garments, such as jeans, to aconsumer.

FIG. 37 shows scan fit model technique.

FIG. 38 shows a clean up scan technique.

FIG. 39 shows a deconstruct and photograph garment technique.

FIG. 40 shows a create two-dimensional base texture technique.

FIG. 41 shows a create base mesh technique.

FIG. 42 shows a UV mapping technique.

FIG. 43 shows a wrap scan technique.

FIG. 44 shows a clean wrap technique.

FIG. 45 shows a project detail technique.

FIG. 46 shows an extract maps and export technique.

FIG. 47 shows a materials technique.

FIG. 48 shows a multiple texture alignment technique.

FIG. 49 shows a decimation technique.

FIG. 50 shows a three.JS technique.

FIG. 51 shows a damage technique.

FIG. 52 shows a bend and decimate technique.

FIG. 53 shows a three.JS technique.

FIG. 54 shows a scale and check technique.

FIG. 55 shows an apply or adjust laser pattern technique.

FIGS. 56-69 show screens for an ordering flow and options available viathe Future Finish Web site for customizing and ordering a pair of jeansfor men.

FIGS. 70-89 show screens for an ordering flow and options available viathe Future Finish Web site for customizing and ordering a pair of jeansfor women.

FIGS. 90-99 relate to a pattern resize tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a process flow 101 for manufacturing apparel such as jeans,where garments are finished using a laser. The fabric or material forvarious apparel including jeans is made from natural or synthetic fibers106, or a combination of these. A fabric mill takes fibers and processes109 these fibers to produce a laser-sensitive finished fabric 112, whichhas enhanced response characteristics for laser finishing.

Some examples of natural fibers include cotton, flax, hemp, sisal, jute,kenaf, and coconut; fibers from animal sources include silk, wool,cashmere, and mohair. Some examples of synthetic fibers includepolyester, nylon, spandex or elastane, and other polymers. Some examplesof semisynthetic fibers include rayon, viscose, modal, and lyocell,which are made from a regenerated cellulose fiber. A fabric can be anatural fiber alone (e.g., cotton), a synthetic fiber alone (e.g.,polyester alone), a blend of natural and synthetic fibers (e.g., cottonand polyester blend, or cotton and spandex), or a blend of natural andsemisynthetic fibers, or any combination of these or other fibers.

For jeans, the fabric is typically a denim, which is a sturdy cottonwarp-faced textile in which a weft passes under two or more warpthreads. This twill weaving produces a diagonal ribbing. The yarns(e.g., warp yarns) are dyed using an indigo or blue dye, which ischaracteristic of blue jeans.

Although this patent describes the apparel processing and finishing withrespect to jeans, the invention is not limited jeans or denim products,such as shirts, shorts, jackets, vests, and skirts. The techniques andapproaches described are applicable to other apparel and products,including nondenim products and products made from knit materials. Someexamples include T-shirts, sweaters, coats, sweatshirts (e.g., hoodies),casual wear, athletic wear, outerwear, dresses, evening wear, sleepwear,loungewear, underwear, socks, bags, backpacks, uniforms, umbrellas,swimwear, bed sheets, scarves, and many others.

A manufacturer creates a design 115 (design I) of its product. Thedesign can be for a particular type of clothing or garment (e.g., men'sor women's jean, or jacket), sizing of the garment (e.g., small, medium,or large, or waist size and inseam length), or other design feature. Thedesign can be specified by a pattern or cut used to form pieces of thepattern. A fabric is selected and patterned and cut 118 based on thedesign. The pattern pieces are assembled together 121 into the garment,typically by sewing, but can be joined together using other techniques(e.g., rivets, buttons, zipper, hoop and loop, adhesives, or othertechniques and structures to join fabrics and materials together).

Some garments can be complete after assembly and ready for sale.However, other garments are unfinished 122 and have additional finishing124, which includes laser finishing. The finishing may include tinting,washing, softening, and fixing. For distressed denim products, thefinishing can include using a laser to produce a wear pattern accordingto a design 127 (design II). Some additional details of laser finishingare described in U.S. patent application 62/377,447, filed Aug. 19,2016, and Ser. No. 15/682,507, filed Aug. 21, 2017, are incorporated byreference along with all other references cited in this application.

Design 127 is for postassembly aspects of a garment while design 115 isfor preassembly aspects of a garment. After finishing, a finishedproduct 130 (e.g., a pair of jeans) is complete and ready for sale. Thefinished product is inventoried and distributed 133, delivered to stores136, and sold to consumers or customers 139. The consumer can buy andwear worn blue jeans without having to wear out the jeans themselves,which usually takes significant time and effort.

Traditionally, to produce distressed denim products, finishingtechniques include dry abrasion, wet processing, oxidation, or othertechniques, or combinations of these, to accelerate wear of the materialin order to produce a desired wear pattern. Dry abrasion can includesandblasting or using sandpaper. For example, some portions or localizedareas of the fabric are sanded to abrade the fabric surface. Wetprocessing can include washing in water, washing with oxidizers (e.g.,bleach, peroxide, ozone, or potassium permanganate), spraying withoxidizers, washing with abrasives (e.g., pumice, stone, or grit).

These traditional finishing approaches take time, incur expense, andimpact the environment by utilizing resources and producing waste. It isdesirable to reduce water and chemical usage, which can includeeliminating the use agents such as potassium permanganate and pumice. Analternative to these traditional finishing approaches is laserfinishing.

FIG. 2 shows a finishing technique that includes the use of a laser 207.A laser is a device that emits light through a process of opticalamplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagneticradiation. Lasers are used for bar code scanning, medical proceduressuch as corrective eye surgery, and industrial applications such aswelding. A particular type of laser for finishing apparel is a carbondioxide laser, which emits a beam of infrared radiation.

The laser is controlled by an input file 210 and control software 213 toemit a laser beam onto fabric at a particular position or location at aspecific power level for a specific amount of time. Further, the powerof the laser beam can be varied according to a waveform such as a pulsewave with a particular frequency, period, pulse width, or othercharacteristic. Some aspects of the laser that can be controlled includethe duty cycle, frequency, marking or burning speed, and otherparameters.

The duty cycle is a percentage of laser emission time. Some examples ofduty cycle percentages include 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 80, and 100 percent.The frequency is the laser pulse frequency. A low frequency might be,for example, 5 kilohertz, while a high frequency might be, for example,25 kilohertz. Generally, lower frequencies will have higher surfacepenetration than high frequencies, which has less surface penetration.

The laser acts like a printer and “prints,” “marks,” or “burns” a wearpattern (specified by input file 210) onto the garment. The fabric thatis exposed to the laser beam (e.g., infrared beam) changes color,lightening the fabric at a specified position by a certain amount basedon the laser power, time of exposure, and waveform used. The lasercontinues from position to position until the wear pattern is completelyprinted on the garment.

In a specific implementation, the laser has a resolution of about 34dots per inch (dpi), which on the garment is about 0.7 millimeters perpixel. The technique described in this patent is not dependent on thelaser's resolution, and will work with lasers have more or lessresolution than 34 dots per inch. For example, the laser can have aresolution of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 72, 80, 96, 100, 120, 150,200, 300, or 600 dots per inch, or more or less than any of these orother values. Typically, the greater the resolution, the finer thefeatures that can be printed on the garment in a single pass. By usingmultiple passes (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, or more passes) with the laser, theeffective resolution can be increased. In an implementation, multiplelaser passes are used.

Jeans are dyed using an indigo dye, which results in a blue coloredfabric. The blue color is caused by chromophores trapped in the fabricwhich reflect light as a blue color. U.S. patent applications62/433,739, filed Dec. 13, 2016, and Ser. No. 15/841,263, filed Dec. 13,2017, which are incorporated by reference, describe a denim materialwith enhanced response characteristics to laser finishing. Using a denimmaterial made from indigo ring-dyed yarn, variations in highs and lowsin indigo color shading is achieved by using a laser.

Laser finishing can be used on denim and also other materials too. Laserfinishing can be used to alter the coloration of any material where thesublimation (or decomposition in some cases) temperature of the dye orthe material itself is within range of the operating temperatures of thelaser during use. Color change is a product of either the removal ofdyestuff or the removal of material uncovering material of anothercolor.

FIG. 3 shows a weave pattern of a denim fabric 326. A loom does theweaving. In weaving, warp is the lengthwise or longitudinal yarn orthread in a roll, while weft or woof is the transverse thread. The weftyarn is drawn through the warp yarns to create the fabric. In FIG. 3 ,the warps extend in a first direction 335 (e.g., north and south) whilethe wefts extend in a direction 337 (e.g., east and west). The wefts areshown as a continuous yarn that zigzags across the wefts (e.g., carriedacross by a shuttle or a rapier of the loom). Alternatively, the weftscould be separate yarns. In some specific implementations, the warp yarnhas a different weight or thickness than the weft yarns. For example,warp yarns can be coarser than the weft yarns.

For denim, dyed yarn is used for the warp, and undyed or white yarn istypically used for the weft yarn. In some denim fabrics, the weft yarncan be dyed and have a color other than white, such as red. In the denimweave, the weft passes under two or more warp threads. FIG. 3 shows aweave with the weft passing under two warp threads. Specifically, thefabric weave is known as a 2×1 right-hand twill. For a right-hand twill,a direction of the diagonal is from a lower left to an upper right. Fora left-hand twill, a direction of the diagonal is from an lower right toan upper left. But in other denim weaves, the weft can pass under adifferent number of warp threads, such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more. Inother implementation, the denim is a 3×1 right-hand twill, which meansthe weft passes under three warp threads.

Because of the weave, one side of the fabric exposes more of the warpyarns (e.g., warp-faced side), while the other side exposes more of theweft yarns (e.g., weft-faced side). When the warp yarns are blue andweft yarns are white, a result of the weave is the warp-faced side willappear mostly blue while the reverse side, weft-faced side, will appearmostly white.

In denim, the warp is typically 100 percent cotton. But some warp yarnscan be a blend with, for example, elastane to allow for warp stretch.And some yarns for other fabrics may contain other fibers, such aspolyester or elastane as examples.

In an indigo ring-dyed yarn, the indigo does not fully penetrate to acore of the yarn. Rather, the indigo dye is applied at a surface of thecotton yarn and diffuses toward the interior of the yarn. So when theyarn is viewed cross-sectionally, the indigo dyed material will appearas a ring on around an outer edge of the yarn. The shading of the indigodye will generally lighten in a gradient as a distance increases fromthe surface of the yarn to the center (or core) of the yarn.

During laser finishing, the laser removes a selected amount of thesurface of the indigo dyed yarn (e.g., blue color) to reveal a lightercolor (e.g., white color) of the inner core of the ring-dyed yarn. Themore of the indigo dyed material that is removed, the lighter the color(e.g., lighter shade of blue). The more of the indigo dyed material thatremains, the darker the color (e.g., deeper shade of blue). The lasercan be controlled precisely to remove a desired amount of material toachieve a desired shade of blue in a desired place or position on thematerial.

With laser finishing, a finish can be applied (e.g., printed or burnedvia the laser) onto apparel (e.g., jeans and denim garments) that willappear similar to or indistinguishable from a finish obtained usingtraditional processing techniques (e.g., dry abrasion, wet processing,and oxidation). Laser finishing of apparel is less costly and is fasterthan traditional finishing techniques and also has reduced environmentalimpact (e.g., eliminating the use of harsh chemical agents and reducingwaste).

FIGS. 4-7 show how the laser alters the color of ring-dyed yarn. FIG. 4shows a laser beam 407 striking a ring-dyed yarn 413 having indigo-dyedfibers 418 and white core fibers 422. The laser removes the dyed fibers,which can be by vaporizing or otherwise destroying the cotton fiber viaheat or high temperature that the laser beam causes.

FIG. 5 shows the laser using a first power level setting or firstexposure time setting, or a combination of these, to remove some of thedyed fibers, but not revealing any of the white core fibers. The undyedfibers remain covered. There is no color change.

FIG. 6 shows the laser using a second power level setting or secondexposure time setting, or a combination of these, to remove more of thedyed fibers than in FIG. 5 . The second power level is greater than thefirst power level, or the second exposure time setting is greater thanthe first exposure time setting, or a combination of these. The resultis some of the undyed fibers are revealed. There is a color change,subtle highlighting.

FIG. 7 shows the laser using a third power level setting or thirdexposure time setting, or a combination of these, to remove even more ofthe dyed fibers than in FIG. 6 . The third power level is greater thanthe second power level, or the third exposure time setting is greaterthan the second exposure time setting, or a combination of these. Theresult is more of the undyed fibers are revealed. There is a colorchange, brighter highlighting.

As shown in FIG. 2 , before laser 207, the fabric can be prepared 216for the laser, which may be referred to as a base preparation, and caninclude a prelaser wash. This step helps improves the results of thelaser. After the laser, there can be a postlaser wash 219. This wash canclean or remove any residue caused by the laser, such as removing anycharring (which would appear as brown or slightly burning). There can beadditional finish 221, which may be including tinting, softening, orfixing, to complete finishing.

FIG. 8 shows a technique where finishing 124 is divided into twofinishing steps, finishing I and finishing II. Finishing I 808 is aninitial finishing to create base templates 811. With finishing II 814,each base template can be used to manufacture multiple final finishes817.

FIG. 9 shows multiple base templates, base A, base B, and base C. Thesebase templates may be referred to as base fit fabrics or BFFs. In animplementation, the base templates can be created during base prep andprelaser wash 216 (see FIG. 2 ). During finishing I, by using differentwash 216 methods or recipes, each different base template can becreated.

Finishing II can include laser finishing. Base A is lasered withdifferent designs to obtain various final product based on base A (e.g.,FP(A)1 to FP(A)i, where i is an integer). Base B is lasered withdifferent designs to obtain various final product based on base B (e.g.,FP(B)1 to FP(B)j, where j is an integer). Base C is lasered withdifferent designs to obtain various final product based on base C (e.g.,FP(C)1 to FP(C)k, where k is an integer). Each base can be used toobtain a number of different final designs. For example, the integers i,j, and k can have different values.

As described above and shown in FIG. 2 , after finishing II, there canbe additional finishing during post laser wash 219 and additionalfinishing 221. For example, during the postlaser wash, there may beadditional tinting to the lasered garments. This tinting can result inan overall color cast to change the look of the garment.

In an implementation, laser finishing is used to create many differentfinishes (each a different product) easily and quickly from the samefabric template or BFF or “blank.” For each fabric, there will be anumber of base fit fabrics. These base fit fabrics are lasered toproduce many different finishes, each being a different product for aproduct line. Laser finishing allows greater efficiency because by usingfabric templates (or base fit fabrics), a single fabric or material canbe used to create many different products for a product line, more thanis possible with traditional processing. This reduces the inventory ofdifferent fabric and finish raw materials.

For a particular product (e.g., 511 product), there can be two differentfabrics, such as base B and base C of FIG. 9 . The fabrics can be partof a fabric tool kit. For base B, there are multiple base fit fabrics,FP(B)1, FP(B)2, and so forth. Using laser finishing, a base fit fabric(e.g., FP(B)1) can be used to product any number of different finishes(e.g., eight different finishes), each of which would be considered adifferent product model.

For example, FP(B)1 can be laser finished using different laser files(e.g., laser file 1, laser file 2, laser file 3, or others) or havedifferent postlaser wash (e.g., postlaser wash recipe 1, postlaser washrecipe 2, postlaser wash recipe 3, or others), or any combination ofthese. A first product would be base fit fabric FP(B)1 lasered usinglaser file 1 and washed using postlaser wash recipe 1. A second productwould be base fit fabric FP(B)1 lasered using laser file 2 and washedusing postlaser wash recipe 1. A third product would be base fit fabricFP(B)1 lasered using laser file 2 and washed using postlaser wash recipe2. And there can be many more products based on the same base fitfabric. Each can have a different product identifier or uniqueidentifier, such as a different PC9 or nine-digit product code.

With laser finishing, many products or PC9s are produced for each basefit fabric or blank. Compared to traditional processing, this is asignificant improvement in providing greater numbers of differentproducts with less different fabrics and finishes (each of which intraditional processing consume resources, increasing cost, and taketime). Inventory is reduced. The technique of providing base fitfinishes or fabric templates for laser finishing has significant andmany benefits.

A system incorporating laser finishing can include a computer to controlor monitor operation, or both. FIG. 10 shows an example of a computerthat is component of a laser finishing system. The computer may be aseparate unit that is connected to a system, or may be embedded inelectronics of the system. In an embodiment, the invention includessoftware that executes on a computer workstation system or server, suchas shown in FIG. 10 .

FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a distributed computer network1000 incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. Computernetwork 1000 includes a number of client systems 1013, 1016, and 1019,and a server system 1022 coupled to a communication network 1024 via aplurality of communication links 1028. Communication network 1024provides a mechanism for allowing the various components of distributednetwork 1000 to communicate and exchange information with each other.

Communication network 1024 may itself be comprised of manyinterconnected computer systems and communication links. Communicationlinks 1028 may be hardwire links, optical links, satellite or otherwireless communications links, wave propagation links, or any othermechanisms for communication of information. Communication links 1028may be DSL, Cable, Ethernet or other hardwire links, passive or activeoptical links, 3G, 3.5G, 4G and other mobility, satellite or otherwireless communications links, wave propagation links, or any othermechanisms for communication of information.

Various communication protocols may be used to facilitate communicationbetween the various systems shown in FIG. 10 . These communicationprotocols may include VLAN, MPLS, TCP/IP, Tunneling, HTTP protocols,wireless application protocol (WAP), vendor-specific protocols,customized protocols, and others. While in one embodiment, communicationnetwork 1024 is the Internet, in other embodiments, communicationnetwork 1024 may be any suitable communication network including a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, anintranet, a private network, a public network, a switched network, andcombinations of these, and the like.

Distributed computer network 1000 in FIG. 10 is merely illustrative ofan embodiment incorporating the present invention and does not limit thescope of the invention as recited in the claims. One of ordinary skillin the art would recognize other variations, modifications, andalternatives. For example, more than one server system 1022 may beconnected to communication network 1024. As another example, a number ofclient systems 1013, 1016, and 1019 may be coupled to communicationnetwork 1024 via an access provider (not shown) or via some other serversystem.

Client systems 1013, 1016, and 1019 typically request information from aserver system which provides the information. For this reason, serversystems typically have more computing and storage capacity than clientsystems. However, a particular computer system may act as both as aclient or a server depending on whether the computer system isrequesting or providing information. Additionally, although aspects ofthe invention have been described using a client-server environment, itshould be apparent that the invention may also be embodied in astand-alone computer system.

Server 1022 is responsible for receiving information requests fromclient systems 1013, 1016, and 1019, performing processing required tosatisfy the requests, and for forwarding the results corresponding tothe requests back to the requesting client system. The processingrequired to satisfy the request may be performed by server system 1022or may alternatively be delegated to other servers connected tocommunication network 1024.

Client systems 1013, 1016, and 1019 enable users to access and queryinformation stored by server system 1022. In a specific embodiment, theclient systems can run as a standalone application such as a desktopapplication or mobile smartphone or tablet application. In anotherembodiment, a “Web browser” application executing on a client systemenables users to select, access, retrieve, or query information storedby server system 1022. Examples of Web browsers include the InternetExplorer browser program provided by Microsoft Corporation, Firefoxbrowser provided by Mozilla, Chrome browser provided by Google, Safaribrowser provided by Apple, and others.

In a client-server environment, some resources (e.g., files, music,video, or data) are stored at the client while others are stored ordelivered from elsewhere in the network, such as a server, andaccessible via the network (e.g., the Internet). Therefore, the user'sdata can be stored in the network or “cloud.” For example, the user canwork on documents on a client device that are stored remotely on thecloud (e.g., server). Data on the client device can be synchronized withthe cloud.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary client or server system of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, a user interfaces with the system through acomputer workstation system, such as shown in FIG. 11 . FIG. 11 shows acomputer system 1101 that includes a monitor 1103, screen 1105,enclosure 1107 (may also be referred to as a system unit, cabinet, orcase), keyboard or other human input device 1109, and mouse or otherpointing device 1111. Mouse 1111 may have one or more buttons such asmouse buttons 1113.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited anycomputing device in a specific form factor (e.g., desktop computer formfactor), but can include all types of computing devices in various formfactors. A user can interface with any computing device, includingsmartphones, personal computers, laptops, electronic tablet devices,global positioning system (GPS) receivers, portable media players,personal digital assistants (PDAs), other network access devices, andother processing devices capable of receiving or transmitting data.

For example, in a specific implementation, the client device can be asmartphone or tablet device, such as the Apple iPhone product family,Apple iPad product family, Apple iPod product family, Samsung Galaxyproduct family, Google Nexus and Pixel product families, and Microsoftdevices (e.g., Microsoft Surface product family). Typically, asmartphone includes a telephony portion (and associated radios) and acomputer portion, which are accessible via a touch screen display.

There is nonvolatile memory to store data of the telephone portion(e.g., contacts and phone numbers) and the computer portion (e.g.,application programs including a browser, pictures, games, videos, andmusic). The smartphone typically includes a camera (e.g., front facingcamera or rear camera, or both) for taking pictures and video. Forexample, a smartphone or tablet can be used to take live video that canbe streamed to one or more other devices.

Enclosure 1107 houses familiar computer components, some of which arenot shown, such as a processor, memory, mass storage devices 1117, andthe like. Mass storage devices 1117 may include mass disk drives, floppydisks, magnetic disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, fixeddisks, hard disks, CD-ROMs, recordable CDs, DVDs, recordable DVDs (e.g.,DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, HD-DVD, or Blu-ray Disc), flash and othernonvolatile solid-state storage (e.g., USB flash drive or solid statedrive (SSD)), battery-backed-up volatile memory, tape storage, reader,and other similar media, and combinations of these.

A computer-implemented or computer-executable version or computerprogram product of the invention may be embodied using, stored on, orassociated with computer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium mayinclude any medium that participates in providing instructions to one ormore processors for execution. Such a medium may take many formsincluding, but not limited to, nonvolatile, volatile, and transmissionmedia. Nonvolatile media includes, for example, flash memory, or opticalor magnetic disks. Volatile media includes static or dynamic memory,such as cache memory or RAM. Transmission media includes coaxial cables,copper wire, fiber optic lines, and wires arranged in a bus.Transmission media can also take the form of electromagnetic, radiofrequency, acoustic, or light waves, such as those generated duringradio wave and infrared data communications.

For example, a binary, machine-executable version, of the software ofthe present invention may be stored or reside in RAM or cache memory, oron mass storage device 1117. The source code of the software of thepresent invention may also be stored or reside on mass storage device1117 (e.g., hard disk, magnetic disk, tape, or CD-ROM). As a furtherexample, code of the invention may be transmitted via wires, radiowaves, or through a network such as the Internet.

FIG. 12 shows a system block diagram of computer system 1101 used toexecute the software of the present invention. As in FIG. 11 , computersystem 1101 includes monitor 1103, keyboard 1109, and mass storagedevices 1117. Computer system 1101 further includes subsystems such ascentral processor 1202, system memory 1204, input/output (I/O)controller 1206, display adapter 1208, serial or universal serial bus(USB) port 1212, network interface 1218, and speaker 1220. The inventionmay also be used with computer systems with additional or fewersubsystems. For example, a computer system could include more than oneprocessor 1202 (i.e., a multiprocessor system) or a system may include acache memory.

Arrows such as 1222 represent the system bus architecture of computersystem 1101. However, these arrows are illustrative of anyinterconnection scheme serving to link the subsystems. For example,speaker 1220 could be connected to the other subsystems through a portor have an internal direct connection to central processor 1202. Theprocessor may include multiple processors or a multicore processor,which may permit parallel processing of information. Computer system1101 shown in FIG. 12 is but an example of a computer system suitablefor use with the present invention. Other configurations of subsystemssuitable for use with the present invention will be readily apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art.

Computer software products may be written in any of various suitableprogramming languages, such as C, C++, C#, Pascal, Fortran, Perl, Matlab(from MathWorks), SAS, SPSS, JavaScript, AJAX, Java, Python, Erlang, andRuby on Rails. The computer software product may be an independentapplication with data input and data display modules. Alternatively, thecomputer software products may be classes that may be instantiated asdistributed objects. The computer software products may also becomponent software such as Java Beans (from Oracle Corporation) orEnterprise Java Beans (EJB from Oracle Corporation).

An operating system for the system may be one of the Microsoft Windows®family of systems (e.g., Windows 95, 98, Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000,Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows CE,Windows Mobile, Windows RT), Symbian OS, Tizen, Linux, HP-UX, UNIX, SunOS, Solaris, Mac OS X, Apple iOS, Android, Alpha OS, AIX, IRIX32, orIRIX64. Other operating systems may be used. Microsoft Windows is atrademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Any trademarks or service marks used in this patent are property oftheir respective owner. Any company, product, or service names in thispatent are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos,and brands does not imply endorsement.

Furthermore, the computer may be connected to a network and mayinterface to other computers using this network. The network may be anintranet, internet, or the Internet, among others. The network may be awired network (e.g., using copper), telephone network, packet network,an optical network (e.g., using optical fiber), or a wireless network,or any combination of these. For example, data and other information maybe passed between the computer and components (or steps) of a system ofthe invention using a wireless network using a protocol such as Wi-Fi(IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i,802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ad, just to name a few examples), nearfield communication (NFC), radio-frequency identification (RFID), mobileor cellular wireless (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G, 3GPP LTE, WiMAX, LTE, LTEAdvanced, Flash-OFDM, HIPERMAN, iBurst, EDGE Evolution, UMTS, UMTS-TDD,ixRDD, and EV-DO). For example, signals from a computer may betransferred, at least in part, wirelessly to components or othercomputers.

In an embodiment, with a Web browser executing on a computer workstationsystem, a user accesses a system on the World Wide Web (WWW) through anetwork such as the Internet. The Web browser is used to download Webpages or other content in various formats including HTML, XML, text,PDF, and postscript, and may be used to upload information to otherparts of the system. The Web browser may use uniform resourceidentifiers (URLs) to identify resources on the Web and hypertexttransfer protocol (HTTP) in transferring files on the Web.

In other implementations, the user accesses the system through either orboth of native and nonnative applications. Native applications arelocally installed on the particular computing system and are specific tothe operating system or one or more hardware devices of that computingsystem, or a combination of these. These applications (which aresometimes also referred to as “apps”) can be updated (e.g.,periodically) via a direct internet upgrade patching mechanism orthrough an applications store (e.g., Apple iTunes and App store, GooglePlay store, Windows Phone store, and Blackberry App World store).

The system can run in platform-independent, nonnative applications. Forexample, client can access the system through a Web application from oneor more servers using a network connection with the server or serversand load the Web application in a Web browser. For example, a Webapplication can be downloaded from an application server over theInternet by a Web browser. Nonnative applications can also be obtainedfrom other sources, such as a disk.

FIGS. 13-14 show examples of mobile devices, which can be mobileclients. Mobile devices are specific implementations of a computer, suchas described above. FIG. 13 shows a smartphone device 1301, and FIG. 14shows a tablet device 1401. Some examples of smartphones include theApple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel family of devices. Someexamples of tablet devices include the Apple iPad, Apple iPad Pro,Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Google Nexus and Pixelbook family of devices.

Smartphone 1301 has an enclosure that includes a screen 1303, button1309, speaker 1311, camera 1313, and proximity sensor 1335. The screencan be a touch screen that detects and accepts input from finger touchor a stylus. The technology of the touch screen can be a resistive,capacitive, infrared grid, optical imaging, or pressure-sensitive,dispersive signal, acoustic pulse recognition, or others. The touchscreen is screen and a user input device interface that acts as a mouseand keyboard of a computer.

Button 1309 is sometimes referred to as a home button and is used toexit a program and return the user to the home screen. The phone mayalso include other buttons (not shown) such as volume buttons and on-offbutton on a side. The proximity detector can detect a user's face isclose to the phone, and can disable the phone screen and its touchsensor, so that there will be no false inputs from the user's face beingnext to screen when talking.

Tablet 1401 is similar to a smartphone. Tablet 1401 has an enclosurethat includes a screen 1403, button 1409, and camera 1413. Typically thescreen (e.g., touch screen) of a tablet is larger than a smartphone,usually 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, or more inches (measured diagonally).

FIG. 15 shows a system block diagram of mobile device 1501 used toexecute the software of the present invention. This block diagram isrepresentative of the components of smartphone or tablet device. Themobile device system includes a screen 1503 (e.g., touch screen),buttons 1509, speaker 1511, camera 1513, motion sensor 1515, lightsensor 1517, microphone 1519, indicator light 1521, and external port1523 (e.g., USB port or Apple Lightning port). These components cancommunicate with each other via a bus 1525.

The system includes wireless components such as a mobile networkconnection 1527 (e.g., mobile telephone or mobile data), Wi-Fi 1529,Bluetooth 1531, GPS 1533 (e.g., detect GPS positioning), other sensors1535 such as a proximity sensor, CPU 1537, RAM memory 1539, storage 1541(e.g., nonvolatile memory), and battery 1543 (lithium ion or lithiumpolymer cell). The battery supplies power to the electronic componentsand is rechargeable, which allows the system to be mobile.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a system for creating, designing,producing apparel products with laser finishing. A box line plan 1602 isan internal and interim tool for communication between a merchandisinggroup and design group. Through the box line plan, merchandising cancommunicate what needs to be designed by the design group. The box lineplan can have open slots to be designed 1609.

There is a digital design tool 1616 merchants and design can use toclick and drag finish effects (e.g., laser files) and tint casts overimages of base washes in order to visualize possible combinations andbuild the line visually before the garment finish is actually finishedby the laser. The visualizations can be by rendering on a computersystem, such as using three-dimensional (3-D or 3D) graphics.

U.S. patent applications 62/433,746, filed Dec. 13, 2016, and Ser. No.15/841,268, filed Dec. 13, 2017, which are incorporated by reference,describe a system and operating model of apparel manufacture with laserfinishing. Laser finishing of apparel products allows an operating modelthat reduces finishing cost, lowers carrying costs, increasesproductivity, shortens time to market, be more reactive to trends,reduce product constraints, reduces lost sales and dilution, and more.Improved aspects include design, development, planning, merchandising,selling, making, and delivering. The model uses fabric templates, eachof which can be used be produce a multitude of laser finishes.Operational efficiency is improved.

Designers can use the digital design tool to design products that areused to satisfy the requests in open slots 1609. Designs created usingthe digital design tool can be stored in a digital library 1622. Inputto the digital design tool include fabric templates or blanks 1627(e.g., base fit fabrics or BFFs), existing finishes 1633 (e.g., can befurther modified by the tool 1616), and new finishes 1638. New finishescan be from designs 1641 (e.g., vintage design) captured using a laserfinish software tool 1645, examples of which are described in U.S.patent applications 62/377,447, filed Aug. 19, 2016, and Ser. No.15/682,507, filed Aug. 21, 2017. Digital library 1622 can be accessibleby the region assorting and sell-in 1650. And the digital library can beused to populate or satisfy the box line plan.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a specific implementation of a digitaldesign tool, a preview tool 1703. Digital design tool 1616 can berepresentative of a collection of tools, such as an application suite,including desktop or mobile apps, or a combination.

Preview tool 1703 can be a single tool in a toolbox or toolkit used forlaser finishing of garments, or the tool can be incorporated as afeature of another tool. The preview tool allows a user such as aclothing designer to preview on a computer screen or to generate adigital representation (e.g., image file, JPEG file, BMP file, TIFFfile, GIF file, PNG file, PSD file, or others) of jeans in a selectedbase fit fabric or fabric template 1706 with a selected laser pattern1709 (e.g., from a laser input file). With the digital representation,the user will be able to see or preview the jeans in the selected basefit fabric as if it had been burned with the selected laser input file,without needing to actually laser or burn the jeans.

With the preview tool, the appearance of the garment (e.g., jeans) willbe of the finished garment product that the consumer will see (e.g.,after postlaser wash). As discussed above, after laser finishing, thegarment will have charred appearance, and damage holes will still beconnected by fine yarns, and will not yet be tinted. After postlaserwash, the charring and yellowish hue due to the laser ash and residuewill be washed away. The damage holes or openings will be opened andtypically have a shredded appearance. The garment will have the selectedtinting (e.g., color and level of color).

The preview tool displays on a screen or other visual output a previewimage 1711 of the garment as it would appear to the consumer, after postlaser wash. The preview image 1711 will be a photorealistic image incolor. The preview image may be displayed in using a 8-bit or greatercolor depth, 16-bit or greater color depth, 24-bit or greater colordepth, or 32-bit or greater color depth. This is in contrast to acomputer screen at operator's console of a laser finishing machine,which typically only shows black and white images. The console isprimarily used for alignment rather than design, and using black andwhite images can provide increased contrast (as compared to colorimages) which aids the operator in achieving proper alignment.

The console is directly attached or connected to the laser, while thepreview tool is front end tool that executes remotely from the computerand connected via a network. The preview tool can be directly attachedor connected to the laser, but typically not because laser finishing istypically performed at a different physical location from where garmentsare designed. For example, a design facility may be in San Francisco,while the laser finishing center may be Las Vegas or outside the UnitedStates (e.g., China, Mexico, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India,Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Brazil, and others).

After a garment has been designed and previewed using the preview tool,the information can be transferred via the network to the laserfinishing tool and its console. For example, the preview tool canexecute on a desktop computer, mobile device (e.g., smartphone or tabletcomputer), or using a Web browser.

Some files are described as being of an image file type. Some examplesof image file types or file formats include bitmap or raster graphicsformats including IMG, TIFF, EXIF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PBM, PGM, PPM, BMP,and RAW. The compression for the file can be lossless (e.g., TIFF) orlossy (e.g., JPEG). Other image file types or file formats includevector graphics including DXF, SVG, and the like.

Bitmaps or raster graphics are resolution dependent while vectorgraphics are resolution independent. Raster graphics generally cannotscale up to an arbitrary resolution without loss of apparent quality.This property contrasts with the capabilities of vector graphics, whichgenerally easily scale up to the quality of the device rendering them.

A raster graphics image is a dot matrix data structure representing agenerally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via amonitor, paper, or other display medium. A bitmap, such as a single-bitraster, corresponds bit-for-bit with an image displayed on a screen oroutput medium. A raster is characterized by the width and height of theimage in pixels and by the number of bits per pixel (or color depth,which determines the number of colors it can represent).

The BMP file format is an example of a bitmap. The BMP file format, alsoknown as bitmap image file or device independent bitmap (DIB) fileformat or simply a bitmap, is a raster graphics image file format usedto store bitmap digital images, independently of the display device. TheBMP file format is capable of storing two-dimensional digital images ofarbitrary width, height, and resolution, both monochrome and color, invarious color depths, and optionally with data compression, alphachannels, and color profiles.

The fabric template can be selected from a library of fabric templateimages 1716 or may be a new image uploaded or provided by the user. Eachfabric template images is an image file of a jeans in a base fit fabricor other material. For each jeans model or fit (e.g., models or fits311, 501, 505, 511, 515, 541, 569, 721, and others), there would be oneimage in each different material or base fit fabric.

The laser input file can be selected from a library of laser input files1722 (e.g., files created from vintage jeans or from a group ofdesigners), a file 1718 created by the user, or a file uploaded orprovided by the user. For example, the user may have created the laserpattern (contained within a laser input file) manually using a graphicalor image editing tool (e.g., Adobe Photoshop and similar photo editingprograms). Or the laser pattern may have been created by another, suchas selected from a library of laser files. The laser pattern may begenerated by a computer or automated process, such as may be used toobtain a laser pattern from vintage jeans. The user will be able to seethe results of a burn, make any manual changes or alterations to thepattern (such as additional changes to a vintage jean pattern in adigital image file) and preview the results again. The preview toolallows a user to make and see changes, to the user can obtain feedbackfaster than having to laser jeans to see the results and also avoidingunneeded waste (e.g., preliminary versions of burned jeans).

Each digital representation can be saved as separate images, and a groupor set of the images can be a called brief of collection of jeans. Thepreview tool can be used for merchandising, such as generating images ofa proposed line of products for a particular season, and these imagescan be shared among members of a team to discuss any additions, changes,or deletions to a collection.

Table A presents a pseudocode computer program listing of samplesoftware code for a specific implementation of a preview tool 1703 fordisplaying finished apparel 1711 for a given fabric template input(e.g., base fit fabric image) and laser input file. A specificimplementation of the source code may be written in a programminglanguage such as Python. Other programming languages can be used.

TABLE A PREVIEW PATTERN TOOL SETUP: file selection object GET: inputfile from user selection ASSIGN: default blur options for high and lowsettings ASSIGN: input and conversion dpi settings FUNCTION: Import File(File List, File Index): IMPORT: file being previewed COMPUTE AND SET:resolution conversion factor CALCULATE: optional resized image for useduring preview RETURN: input file and resized input file RUN: ImportFile (File List, File Index) CREATE: plotting object to display resultsto user SETUP: custom colors for preview options ASSIGN: color and colorseparation variables SETUP: graphical user interface interactionsbuttons, sliders, etc. FUNCTION: Update (Value): READ: current displaysettings CHECK: which user interactions are being changed ASSIGN:operation variable value PERFORM: user specified operation REDRAW: plotof image preview to user FUNCTION: Reset (Event): RESET: all defaultsettings for image preview FUNCTION: Change Color (color): SET: color ofbase color for preview REDRAW: plot of image preview to user PLOT:current state of file object

A specific version of the preview tool overlays a fabric template inputfile and a laser input file, and then generates an image to display themtogether as a representation of the laser-finished apparel. The laserinput file is aligned to the garment in the fabric template input file,so that the positioning of features in the laser input file are atappropriate positions or places on the garment. The alignment may be byusing alignment marks that are in the input files. The alignment may bean automated alignment or scaling, or a combination.

Brightness, intensity, opacity, blending, transparency, or otheradjustable parameters for an image layer, or any combination of these,are selected or adjusted for the laser input file, so that when thelaser input file is overlaid above the fabric template image, the lookof the garment will appear of simulate the look of a garment had beenburned by a laser using that laser input file.

Adjustable parameters such as opacity can be used to blend two or moreimage layers together. For example, a layer's overall opacity determinesto what degree it obscures or reveals the layer beneath it. For example,a layer with 1 percent opacity appears nearly transparent, while onewith 100 percent opacity appears completely opaque.

Further, a dots per inch (dpi) of the combined image can be adjusted tomore properly simulate the look of a garment more closely with a burnedgarment. Dots per inch refers to the number of dots in a printed inch.The more dots, the higher the quality of the print (e.g., more sharpnessand detail). By reducing the dpi of the image, this will reduce theimage quality, resulting a blurring of the image. In an implementation,the preview tool reduces a dpi of the combined image, to be of less dpithan the fabric template input file or the laser input file. By blurringthe preview image, this results in improved simulation that correspondsbetter to a burned laser garment. When burning a garment, the garmentmaterial or fabric typically limits the resolution of the result to lessthan that of the input file.

In an implementation, the dpi of the laser input file is about 72 dpi,while the dpi of the preview image is about 34 dpi. In animplementation, the dpi of the fabric template input file and laserinput file are about 36 dpi or above, while the dpi of the preview imageis about 36 dpi or lower.

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of a digital brief tool 1803, which alsolike preview tool 1703, provides a real-time preview of an appearance ofpair of jeans when a finishing pattern is applied by burning using alaser input file. The digital brief tool has additional features toallow more flexible designing of jeans.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific flows and steps presented. A flow of the invention may haveadditional steps (not necessarily described in this patent), differentsteps which replace some of the steps presented, fewer steps or a subsetof the steps presented, or steps in a different order than presented, orany combination of these. Further, the steps in other implementations ofthe invention may not be exactly the same as the steps presented and maybe modified or altered as appropriate for a particular application orbased on the data or situation.

The digital brief tool takes as input three types of digital assets1805, fabric template input 1816, damage input 1819, and laser inputfile 1822. Fabric template input 1816 and laser input file 1822 aresimilar to the inputs for the preview tool. Damage input 1819 is animage of damage (e.g., holes, rips, shredded regions, or openings ofvarious shapes and sizes) that can be burned by a laser into jeans. Thedigital brief tool overlays the damage and laser input files over thefabric template.

The user selects a fabric template input, which an image of a jeansstyle in a particular base fit fabric. The user can optionally selectone or more damage inputs. If a damage input is selected, the damageinput will be a layer that overlays the fabric template layer. As forthe preview tool, the user selects a laser input file with laser patternand overlays the fabric template layer. As the user selects the inputs,the user will be able to see in real time the inputs and any changes orupdates in a preview image or brief.

After the inputs are selected, the user can select and perform one ormore operations 1826 on the inputs using the digital brief tool. Theseoperations including adding tint 1831, adjusting intensity 1834,adjusting bright point 1837, move digital asset 1842, rotate digitalasset 1845, scale digital asset 1848, and warp digital asset 1852. Asthe user selects and performs one or more operations, the user will beable to see in real time the changes or updates in the preview image orbrief.

After the fabric template input, the user can add tinting 1831. Tintingwill adjust the hue of the color of the fabric template input. Tintingis representative of the tinting which can be added during the postlaserwash or finishing II, described above. The user will be able to select atint color, and this tint color will be blended with the existing colorof the fabric template input. The amount or intensity of the tinting canbe increased or decreased, such as by using a slider bar.

The user can adjust intensity 1834. In an implementation, intensityadjusts a weight matrix by a percentage of each value in the array. Inan implementation, intensity (or brightness) adjusts an opacity of agenerated adjustment layer (see hue saturation lightness adjustmentlayer described below). The greater the opacity, the more opaque thislayer will appear in the preview or brief image. The less the opacity,the less opaque this layer will appear in the preview or brief image;the layer will appear more transparent so that the layer beneath willshow through more.

When increasing brightness, the opacity of the adjustment layerincreases, and since the adjustment layer is above the fabric templateinput, the generated adjustment layer will become more prominent orvisible, thus making this layer (which has the wear pattern) brighter.Similarly, when decreasing brightness, the opacity of the adjustmentlayer decreases, the generated adjustment layer will become lessprominent or visible, thus making this layer (which has the wearpattern) less bright or fainter. The amount of the intensity can beincreased or decreased, such as by using a slider bar.

The user can adjust bright point 1837. Bright point adjusts the effectof the laser input file on the fabric template input. In animplementation, bright point adjustment changes a midpoint of agrayscale, creating a piecewise linear mapping of the pattern file.

Increasing the bright point will increase an effect of the laser pattern(e.g., causing greater laser pattern highlights) in the laser input fileon the fabric template input, while decreasing the bright point does theopposite (e.g., diminishing laser pattern highlights). The bright pointadjustment can be analogous to changing a pixel time or the time thatthe laser stays at a particular position for a given input from thelaser input file. The amount of the bright point can be increased ordecreased, such as by using a slider bar.

The user can move 1842 or reposition a selected digital asset. Forexample, a damage input (or fabric template or laser file) may be movedto a position desired by the user. The user can rotate 1845 a selecteddigital asset. For example, a damage input (or fabric template or laserfile) may be rotated to any angle relative to the other layers asdesired by the user.

The user can scale 1848 a selected digital asset. This scaling can belocked, maintaining the original aspect ratio of the digital asset, orcan be unlocked, such that the user can change the aspect ratio. Theuser can warp 1852 a selected digital asset. With warping, the user canadjust an aspect ratio of a portion of the digital asset differentlyfrom another portion. For example, one portion of a damage input (orfabric template or laser file) can be squished (e.g., right and leftedges of image pushed toward each other) while another portion isexpanded (e.g., right and left edges of image pulled away from eachother).

After the user has performed selected operations 1826, the digital brieftool shows an image of the jeans with the laser finishing pattern,including any tinting, damage, or other adjustments, as created by theuser. This image can be saved and viewed again later. A user can createmultiple designs, and these can be saved together as part of acollection.

FIG. 19 shows a technique of generating a preview of a finished imageusing a digital brief tool. A base image (or fabric template input) isselected. A hue saturation lightness (HSL) adjustment layer is createdor generated for the selected base image. The HSL adjustment layer canbe the base layer with an adjustment for hue saturation lightness. Whentinting is selected, a solid color adjustment layer is created orgenerated.

To obtain a final result, which is the final image of the jeans withlaser finishing pattern, a laser pattern mask is combined with the baseimage and HSL adjustment layer. An resulting combination will be basedon intensity and bright point settings.

The laser pattern mask is a negative image or reverse image of the laserinput file. For the laser input file, during laser burning, a whitepixel means the pixel is not lasered (which results in the originalindigo color of the fabric), and a black pixel means the pixel will belasered at highest level (which results in the whitest color that can beachieved on the fabric). In an implementation, the laser input file has256 levels of gray, and for levels between 0 (e.g., black) and 255(e.g., white), then the amount of laser burning will be proportionallysomewhere in between.

FIG. 20 shows a laser pattern mask that is created from a laser inputfile. The digital brief tool creates the laser pattern mask from thelaser input file by reversing the laser input file. So, for the laserpattern mask, a black pixel means the pixel is not lasered (whichresults in the original indigo color of the fabric), and a white pixelmeans the pixel will be lasered at highest level (which results in thewhitest color that can be achieved on the fabric).

FIG. 21 shows a HLS adjustment layer that is created from the baseimage. The HLS adjustment layer (or adjustment layer) is like ableaching layer, which is an image of what the jeans would appear likeif the jeans were fully bleached or lasered. This layer is created bytaking the base image and adjusting its hue, saturation, and lightness.In an implementation, for this layer, the saturation is reduced comparedto the base layer, and the lightness is increased compared to the baselayer. And the hue is not adjusted compared to the base layer.

A technique of the digital brief tool is to combine the base image andadjustment layer based on the laser pattern mask. For a black pixel inthe laser pattern mask, the base layer will fully pass (and none of theadjustment layer) through to the final result image. For a white pixelin the laser pattern mask, the adjustment layer (and none of the baselayer) will fully pass through to the final result image. For gray pixelvalues, then a percentage of the base layer and adjustment layer willpass through to the final result image. For example, for a value in thelayer pattern mask, 90 percent of the base layer and 10 percent of theadjustment layer pass through to the final result image.

FIG. 22 shows a technique of creating a masked solid color adjustmentlayer. The digital brief tool creates the solid color adjustment layerby creating a layer of a solid color, mask this layer based on the baseimage, and then create masked solid color adjustment layer. An opacityof the masked solid color adjustment layer can be reduced, so that whencombined with the based image, the base image will pass through withsome tinting contributed by the masked solid color adjustment layer.

FIGS. 23-24 shows examples of two different adjustments or settings fora bright point operation. Adjusting bright point adjusts a rate oftransition from middle gray to white on the layer mask.

FIG. 25 shows adjustment of intensity. The intensity adjustment adjustsan opacity (e.g., 40 percent to 100 percent) of an HSL adjustment layer.At 100 percent, the HSL adjustment layer will be fully opaque, and thewear pattern will be very prominent in the brief image or preview.

FIG. 26 shows an array of images showing the effects of adjustments inbright point and intensity. Intensity changes are shown in an X or rowdirection, while bright point changes are shown in a Y or columndirection.

For a first jeans in the first column (from a left of the array), thirdrow (from a top of the array), the bright point and intensity are bothL, indicating the least amount of bright point and intensity. A secondjeans is in the second column, third row; this jeans has a bright pointof L and an intensity between L and H. The wear pattern of the secondjeans is more visible than that for the third jeans. A third jeans is inthe third column, third row; this jeans has a bright point of L and anintensity of H, indicating the greatest amount of intensity. The wearpattern of the third jeans is more visible than that for the secondjeans.

A fourth jeans is in the third column, second row; this jeans has abright point between L and H, and an intensity of H. The size or area ofthe wear pattern of the fourth jeans is larger than that for the thirdjeans. A fifth jeans is in the third column, first row; this jeans has abright point of H and an intensity of H. The size or area of the wearpattern of the fifth jeans is larger than that for the fourth jeans.

FIG. 27 shows a block diagram of a system of generating a preview of alaser-finishing pattern on a garment, such as jeans. Inputs to a createpreview image process 2702 include a base template image 2707 and laserinput file 2709. The base template image is used to create an adjustedbase template image 2717, which is also input to the create previewimage process. These create preview image process uses these threeinputs to create a preview image 2727, which can be displayed on acomputer screen for the user.

The adjusted base template image is created from the base template imageby adjusting its hue, saturation, or lightness, or any combination ofthese. Compared to the original base template image, the adjusted basetemplate image will appear washed out or bleached. In other words, theadjusted base template image will appear as if the garment in the basetemplate image were fully bleached or lasered. The adjusted basetemplate image can be an HLS adjustment layer as discussed above.

For a specific implementation of a laser, a specification for the laserinput file is that each pixel is represented by an 8-bit binary value,which represents grayscale value in a range from 0 to 255. A 0 blackprints the highest intensity (i.e., creates the most change and will bethe lightest possible pixel) and a 255 white does not print at all(i.e., creates the least change or will be the darkest possible pixel).

For a laser input file for this laser implementation, a reverse ornegative image of the laser input file is input to the create previewimage process. Based on the negative laser input file, to create eachpixel in the preview image, the create preview image process will passpixels of the base template image or the adjusted base template image,or a combination of these.

For the negative laser input file, a black pixel means the pixel (whichwas a white pixel in the original file) will not be lasered (whichresults in the original indigo color of the fabric). And a white pixelmeans the pixel (which was black in the original file) will be laseredat highest level (which results in the whitest color that can beachieved on the fabric). And for gray pixels between black and white,the result will be proportional to the value, somewhere between darkestand lightest colors.

Similarly, to create the preview image, based the negative laser inputfile, a pixel of a (1) base template image (e.g., unbleached) or (2)adjusted base template image (e.g., bleached) or (3) some mixture orcombination of the base template image and adjusted base template imageproportional to the grayscale value in the negative laser input file.For example, for a gray value in the negative laser input file, 60percent of the base layer and 40 percent of the adjustment layer passthrough to the preview image.

The above discussion described a laser input file conforming to one typeof logic. However, in other implementations of a laser, the values inthe laser input file can be the reverse or negative logic compared tothat described above. As one of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate, the techniques described in this patent can be modifiedaccordingly to work with negative or positive logic laser input files.

FIGS. 28-35E show a three-dimensional (3-D or 3D) previewing feature ofa laser finishing design tool, such as a digital brief tool (e.g.,digital brief tool 1803 of FIG. 18 ). For example, after creating orselecting a product, the user can view the product (e.g., garment) inthree dimensions or 3D. This 3D preview feature allows a user to see a360-degree preview (in any direction or orientation) of a garment with alaser finishing pattern as the garment would appear when it is worn by aperson.

The preview can be shown with a simulated light source, where apositioning of the simulated light source can be moved by the user. Or,the simulated light source can be at a particular position, and the usercan move the garment above the simulated light source. The preview imagewill appear with the shadows based on the positioning of the lightsource.

Additionally, the preview image can be used in the digital brief tool orother tools where it is desirable for users to view previews ofgarments. Some examples include a consumer sales or ordering Web site(e.g., such as a preview available through a Web browser), where thethree-dimensional preview allows the user to see the garment beforemaking the order. Another example is a sales for wholesalers,distributors, retailers, and other buyers of a manufacturers product.The three-dimensional preview can provide the buyers a realistic view ofthe garments to be ordered, without needing to make physical samples oras many physical samples.

FIG. 28 shows an overall flow for creating a three-dimensional previewfor an apparel product, such as a pair of jeans. The flow includes:

1. A deconstruct garment step 2806. A garment is cut into separatepieces so the pieces can be photographed flat. The shape of the cutpieces are specifically sized and selected for ensuring a high qualitythree-dimensional preview.

2. A photograph pattern pieces step 2812. The pieces of the garment arephotographed while flat on a surface. Compared to photographing thepieces while sewed together, where sections of the garment may be

3. An extract shadow neutral digital pattern pieces 2818.

4. A create shadow neutral texture pieces 2824.

5. A map shadow neutral texture to three-dimensional (3-D or 3D) modelstep 2830.

6. An apply simulated light or shadowing, or both, step 2836.

The following describes a specific implementation of deconstruct garment2806. FIGS. 29A-29F show photographs of cutting a garment into pieces.The photos are for a specific implementation where the garment is a pairor pants, and in particular, a pair of jeans. Not that the seams are notripped or cut, but rather the cut pieces include the seams with thread.This ensures the three-dimensional preview will represent the seamsproperly. Also the cut pieces do not necessarily correspond to thepattern panels used to contrast the garment. The cut pieces are cut intoshapes that are appropriate for photographing flat and use in generatingthe three-dimensional preview.

The following describes a specific implementation of photograph patternpieces 2812. A photograph of each deconstructed pattern pieces is taken.Each photograph can be stored in a digital file, such as a JPEG, highefficiency video coding (HVEC), or other image file format.

FIG. 30 shows a system for taking photographs of the garment pieces. Thesystem includes a camera 3009 and lighting 3012 and 3016. Typically thecamera and lights are mounted or positioned against or near a wall orceiling of a room, or on one side of room. A garment or garment pieces3027 that are to be photographed are laid flat on a surface, facing thecamera and lighting. In an implementation, the camera and lightning arepositioned above a table or other work surface 3029, horizontallyorientated, upon which the garment is placed.

Alternatively, the camera and lightning are positioned on a side, andthe work surface is vertically orientated on another side facing thecamera and lightning. The garment pieces that be attached, such as usingglue, pins, or hook and loop fasteners, to the vertical work surface.

The room can be a light room or light box. The room and work surface aretypically painted or colored a white color. For good or best results,the white color used should be consistently the same shade throughoutthe room. Then any white balance adjustment or correction made at thecamera or digitally after the photographs are taken will be moreprecise.

The lights of the lightning are positioned laterally (e.g., distributedevenly along the same plane as the work surface, which can be referredas an X direction) to evenly illuminate the work surface. So, thegarment will be evenly illuminated without noticeably or significantlybrighter or darker areas or portions. The lightning is also positioned adistance above the work surface (which can be referred as a Y direction)to allow for more even illumination.

The lens of the camera is positioned above (in the Y direction) thelighting source, so that the camera does not cast a shadow on the worksurface or garment (e.g., horizontally orientated). And the camera canbe positioned in the X direction so that lights are arranged uniformlyabout the camera lens. For example, in FIG. 30 , camera 3009 is betweenlights 3012 and 3016. Also the camera lens should be positioned directlyover the garment (in the X direction) being photographed. This ensuresthe photographs taken will not be at an angle.

A specific example of extract shadow neutral digital pattern pieces 2818follows.

After the photographs are taken, each photograph is processed to extractneutral digital pattern pieces. In the extraction process, thebackground and shadowing, if any, is removed.

As examples, FIGS. 31A-31B show photographs of a waistband pieces on thework surface, and FIG. 31C shows the extracted neutral digital patternpiece for the waistband. The physical waistband may be cut into multiplepieces, and the photographs of the separate pieces can be digitallystitched together to create the complete extracted neutral digitalwaistband.

FIG. 31D shows a photograph of a left pant leg front of a pair of jeanswith the background, and FIG. 31E shows the extracted neutral digitalpattern piece for the left pant leg front. FIG. 31F shows a photographof a right pant leg front of the jeans with the background, and FIG. 31Gshows the extracted neutral digital pattern piece for the right pant legfront.

FIG. 31H shows a photograph of a right pant leg back or rear of thejeans with the background, and FIG. 31I shows the extracted neutraldigital pattern piece for the right pant leg back. FIG. 31J shows aphotograph of a left pant leg back or rear of the jeans with thebackground, and FIG. 31K shows the extracted neutral digital patternpiece for the left pant leg back.

The extracted pattern pieces are shadow neutral since the pattern pieceswere photographed while flat. In contrast, for garments that arephotographed or scanned while on a fit model or mannequin, the extractedpattern pieces would not be shadow neutral. The garment pieces based oncurved surfaces, conforming to the shape of the fit model or mannequin.When the curved surfaces are flattened, there would be shadowing, suchas wrinkles and other aberrations. So when those nonshadow neutralextracted pattern pieces are used with a three-dimensional model togenerate a preview, the preview will have an appearance that does notlook natural, such as having unusual shadowing.

A specific example of create shadow neutral texture pieces 2824 follows.FIGS. 32A-32C show the extracted shadow neutral pattern pieces. FIG. 32Dshows a shadow neutral texture created using the extracted shadowneutral pattern pieces and a color layer 3202.

To create the shadow neutral texture, the extracted shadow neutralpattern pieces are combined with a color layer, which typically is acolor which is close to that of a color the garment. For example, forblue jeans, the color layer used will be a similar shade of blue orindigo as on the blue jeans.

The color layer of the shadow neutral texture allows stitching togetherof the different neutral pattern pieces, when mapped to athree-dimensional model, such any potential gaps between the patternpieces will appear seamless. For example, if a very different color isused for the color layer, such as white, than the jeans color, then gapsthat do not exactly align may show this color (e.g., white line).

A specific example of map shadow neutral texture to three-dimensional(3D) model 2830 follows. FIG. 33A shows a created shadow neutral texture3307. FIG. 33B shows a front view of a three-dimensional model, whichthe shadow neutral texture will be applied or mapped to. FIG. 33C showsa result of mapping the shadow neutral texture to the three-dimensionalmodel. This figure shows the front of the garment with the form andwrinkles resulting from the mapping to the three-dimensional model. Thisimage can be used as a three-dimensional preview image.

Similarly, FIG. 33D shows a back or rear view of the three-dimensionalmodel, which the shadow neutral texture will be applied or mapped to.FIG. 33E shows a result of mapping the shadow neutral texture to thethree-dimensional model. This figure shows the back of the garment withthe form and wrinkles resulting from the mapping to thethree-dimensional model. This image can be used as a three-dimensionalpreview image.

There are various ways to generate a three-dimensional model. Onetechnique is to generate a three-dimensional model from a scan of aphysical three-dimensional object, such as a fit model or mannequin.Another technique to create a three-dimensional model from scratch usingsoftware. Such software can allow a designer to three-dimensional modelanalogous to using molding a clay sculpture. Another technique to createa three-dimensional model from software (e.g., computer aided design(CAD) or computer aided manufacturing (CAM) tool) where two-dimensionalpattern pieces of a garment are converted into to three dimensions.

A specific example of apply simulated light or shadowing, or both, 2836follows. A shadow neutral texture and three-dimensional model can beinputs to a rendering engine or software to render the preview image.Some examples of rendering engines include Google's ARCore, WebGL, andothers.

With the rendering engine, an object such as the garment can be renderedor previewed with shadowing generated by the engine or software. Theshadows will change based on a relative positioning of a simulated lightsource and object. Further, the rendering engine can change a cameraposition of point of view (POV) of the user, so that the preview willhave the shadowing from that camera position.

In a specific implementation, a rendering engine maps the shadow neutraltexture to the three-dimensional model, or preview image, and generatesthe preview image with shadowing based on a positioning of a simulatedlight source. The positioning of the light source can be changed orvaried.

For example, FIG. 34A shows an example of a simulated light sourcepositioned to a right of and above the garment. FIG. 34B shows anexample of a simulated light source positioned directly above (e.g.,centered) the garment. FIG. 34C shows an example of a simulated lightsource positioned to a left of and above the garment. The shadowing,wrinkles, and contours are shown in the preview image in accordance withpositioning the simulated light source. The shadows are generated by therendering software. This is in contrast to shadows that are presentgarment when the photographs or scans are taken, when a shadow neutraltexture creation approach is not user.

Alternatively, the user can rotate or change the positioning of thegarment, and the shadowing, wrinkles, and contours will be shown inaccordance with the changed positioning. This is due to the change inthe relative positioning between the garment and the light source. Theshadows are generated by the rendering software.

FIG. 35A shows an example of a first shadow neutral texture, which is apair of jeans having a finish of a first shade. FIG. 35B shows anexample of a second shadow neutral texture, which is a pair of jeanshaving a finish of a second shade. The second shade is different andlighter than the first shade. FIG. 35C shows various view of athree-dimensional model. There are front, back, left side, and rightside views.

FIG. 35D shows of the first shadow neutral texture mapped to thethree-dimensional model to generate a corresponding preview image. Thefigure shows various view of the preview image. FIG. 35E shows of thesecond shadow neutral texture mapped to the three-dimensional model togenerate a corresponding preview image. The figure shows various view ofthe preview image.

FIGS. 35A-35E show how a single three-dimensional model can be used withmultiple shadow neutral texture to generate a multiple preview images.This allows one three-dimensional model to be used with multiple shadowneutral textures to more easily and rapidly generate preview images withdifferent finishes.

Furthermore, there can be multiple three-dimensional models, such as afirst three-dimensional model and a second three-dimensional model. Thedifferent three-dimensional models may represent different fits orstyles. Then a single shadow neutral texture can be mapped to the firstthree-dimensional model to generate a corresponding preview image. Andthe single shadow neutral texture can be mapped to the secondthree-dimensional model to generate a corresponding preview image.

This allows generating multiple previews from a single shadow neutraltexture. For example, a first preview may be for a first fit or style inthe finish of the shadow neutral texture. And a second preview may befor a second fit or style in the same finish. This technique allows formore a single shadow neutral texture to be used to more easily andrapidly generate preview images of different models, where models canrepresent different fits (e.g., Levi's 501, 502, 504, 505, 511, 512,514, 541, 311, 710, or 711) or styles (e.g., skinny, boot cut, wide leg,straight, relaxed, super skinny, slim, tapered, athletic, boyfriend,wedgie, and others).

FIG. 36 shows a flow for creating three-dimensional imagery for ane-commerce Web site to sell laser finished garments, such as jeans, to aconsumer. The Web site provides the consumer awhat-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) user experience to create acustom pair of jeans.

The flow includes scan fit model 3606, clean up scan 3606, deconstructand photograph garment 3609, create two-dimensional base texture 3612,create base mesh 3615, UV mapping 3618, wrap scan 3621, clean wrap 3624,project detail 3627, extract maps and export 3630, materials 3633,multiple texture alignment 3636, decimation 3639, three.JS 3642, damage3645, bend and decimate 3648, three.JS 3651, scale and check 3654, andapply or adjust laser pattern 3657.

FIG. 37 shows scan fit model technique. A fit model is scanned wearing aspecific fit using a structured light three-dimensional scanner. Astylist can style the garment for each pose. The waist band and legopening should be carefully scanned for best results.

FIG. 38 shows a clean up scan technique. Software can be used to removestray polygons and vertices from scanned geometry. The scanned geometryis aligned so that the feet are planted and flush with the ground plan.A three-dimensional scanned geometry texture map can be imported tobetter assess model transition points. The mannequin is cut and geometryis solidified to create a water-tight mesh.

FIG. 39 shows a deconstruct and photograph garment technique. A garment(e.g., pants) is cut through the center of the front left and back rightlegs. The opposite legs of a second garment are cut. Belt loops andpatches are removed to avoid unnecessary cloning later in during imageediting. The garment is places on a photo table as flat as possible.Pins can be used to help remove wrinkles from the fabric. More detailsof the deconstruct and photograph garment technique are described abovein FIGS. 28-35 and their accompanying description.

FIG. 40 shows a create two-dimensional base texture technique. The frontright, front left, back right, back left leg panels are extracted fromthe photographs. A two-dimensional base texture is generated using animage editor by using existing textures of the same fit as the templatefor panel placement. Holes, rivets, buttons, tags, and patches arecloned out (e.g., using a clone brush).

FIG. 41 shows a create base mesh technique. Using modeler software, abase mesh geometry is created with the purpose of wrapping the geometryaround the scan. Landmarks should be created throughout the geometry forthe pockets and seams.

FIG. 42 shows a UV mapping technique. Using the photograph of the finalgarment cuts as a reference, create a precise UV map of the base meshgeometry. A trace of the pockets, seams, yolk, and waistband should beas accurate as possible.

UV mapping is a technique used to wrap a 2D image texture onto a 3Dmesh. U and V are the names of the axes of a plane, since X, Y, and Zare used for the coordinates in the 3D space.

FIG. 43 shows a wrap scan technique. With a software (e.g., ZWrap),select base mesh points and corresponding target points on the scannedgeometry for wrapping the base mesh around the scan. Use landmarkscreated on the base mesh and polygonal transition points on the pockets,cuffs, and seams to get a more accurate wrap of the scan.

FIG. 44 shows a clean wrap technique. Apply texture map from finalphotographed garment cuts to wrapped base mesh. Analyze base meshgeometry for any textural inconsistencies where landmarks are notaligning properly. Resolve and align all inconsistencies between thebase mesh and color texture. Check that all base mesh landmarkscorrespond to their photographed counterparts. Center and scale themodel to real world proportions.

FIG. 45 shows a project detail technique. Subdivide base mesh geometryand project details of the scan and texture map onto the base mesh. Keepall subdivision levels intact for map extraction.

FIG. 46 shows an extract maps and export technique. Extract normal,ambient occlusion, and displacement maps using the multimap exporter.Import the geometry and extracted maps into software such as SubstancePainter. View the model with a software's (e.g., ZBrush) texture maps invarious lighting setups and environments from all angles.

FIG. 47 shows a materials technique. Apply a metallic material to thebutton and rivets on a layer. Apply a negative normal displacement onthe button and rivets using a stencil. Apply a generic leather materialto the patch on its own layer. Export normal, roughness, and metallicmaps.

FIG. 48 shows a multiple texture alignment technique. Apply secondphotographic texture to the model. Clone inconsistencies of seams andstitches using tool such as Substance. For more complex alignments,further refine model and texture maps using software (e.g., Mari).

FIG. 49 shows a decimation technique. Export a low resolution version ofthe model at this point before decimating the mesh at the highestsubdivision level. In software, decimate the denim and belt loopgeometries to 150,000 or other number of polygons (e.g., more than150,000 polygons or fewer than 150,000 polygons). Should keep UV map andfreeze borders when decimating the mesh. Export a lower resolutionremeshed version of the mannequin that still retains anatomicalstructure. The mannequin should be correctly fitted to the pants and notclipping.

FIG. 50 shows a three.JS technique. Three.JS is a Javascript 3D library.In a threejs editor, preview the model with the various texture maps:color, roughness, metalness, ambient occlusion, and normal map. Use abasic or lambert material for the denim. Use a physical material withthe various roughness and metal maps for the button, rivets, and patch.Add lights to the scene to see how the materials react to light withinthree.js.

Three.js is a cross-browser JavaScript library and ApplicationProgramming Interface (API) used to create and display animated 3Dcomputer graphics in a web browser. Three.js uses WebGL. The source codeis hosted in a repository on GitHub.

FIG. 51 shows a damage technique. Using damage photographed texture,displace geometry of a subdivided plane. Split geometrical parts intofray and weft using the photographed texture alpha masks. Delete excessgeometry of the plane not part of the damage fray or weft.

FIG. 52 shows a bend and decimate technique. Merge fray and wefttogether to create one single mesh. Decimate damage geometry to desiredlevel of detail. Split geometrical parts into fray and weft using thephotographed texture alpha masks. Export damage fray and weft asseparate objects.

FIG. 53 shows a three.JS technique. In the three.JS editor, preview themodel with the decimated damage model. Use a basic shader for thedamage.

FIG. 54 shows a scale and check technique. Center a fit with itscorresponding damages as a group to the origin. Scale fit or damagelevel group. Use the base denim object as a reference, and scale thebase denim to approximately X sizing (e.g., 80, 90, 100, 110, or 120centimeters) for a female fit and Y sizing (e.g., 90, 100, 110, 120, or130 centimeters) for a male fit. In an implementation Y is greater thanX. Accompanying damage levels should scale proportionally with thegroup.

Import the rescaled fit and damages into the three.js editor tocross-check scale consistency with a properly scaled fit. All assetsbetween fits should be correctly scaled and centered.

FIG. 55 shows an apply or adjust, or both, laser pattern technique.Using an image editor, use a laser pattern to mask an HSL adjustmentlayer. See discussion above regarding HSL adjustment. A levelsadjustment can be used on the mask to adjust the laser pattern contrast.Use the adjustment layer to match the laser pattern intensity to thephysical target.

A Future Finish™ Web site of Levi Strauss & Co. is an all-new way forusers to customize denim using groundbreaking laser-powered technology.Future Finish is a trademark of Levi Strauss & Co. At the Future Finishsite, using a Web browser, a customer or user, can select, view,customize, and order a jeans with finishing pattern, where the finishingpattern is created by laser finishing.

With Future Finish, LS&Co. has reinvented the art of self-expression.LS&Co.'s laser-powered personalization technology lets a user customizedenim with one-of-a-kind details, from rips to fades, patterns topatches. Now users can create iconic denim, their way. And it is easy.

1. Pick a wash or base finish. For example, choose from a lighter ordarker denim.

2. Pick a pattern. For example, choose from five different laserfinishes including natural worn, bandana, logo, camo, or leopard.

3. Pick a wear. For example, choose how a Future Finish jeans will feelwhen you get them. Go for none if the user prefers to wear the jeans in.

4. Pick a tint. For example, choose from natural, midnight, black orrose

5. Pick a Levi's back patch. For example, choose from blue, yellow,orange, pink, green, or traditional leather.

The user selects a shipping preference when checking out. Then just sitback and relax. It typically takes about three days to process andcustomize an order.

The Road to Sustainability. Created in LS&Co's Eureka Innovation Lab andbuilt by a team of designers, developers, engineers and scientists,Future Finish uses the latest advances in laser-powered technology todigitize the design and development of denim. By going digital, fewerchemicals are used in the finishing process and reduce our environmentalimpact. It is an exciting day for denim.

More specifically, using Three.JS, the Future Finish site provides theuser a three-dimensional real-time preview of the jeans as the user iscustomizing it. When the laser pattern is selected and displayed on thebrowser, the laser input file (e.g., which may be generated via theresizing tool for the particular jeans selected) is protected, so that aperson can intercept a transmission between the server and client (e.g.,browser) to obtain the laser input file by itself.

In an implementation, the laser input file is protected by encryption(e.g., end-to-end encryption). In an implementation, the laser inputfile is merged together with the jeans image before it is sent to theclient device. This merging will make it difficult for a person torecover the laser input file itself, especially since the jeans imagehas a base wash pattern on it. The laser input file is protected becauseit can contain intellectual property of the company that developed thefinish of the file. These files can be licensed from or by others foruse. In an implementation, before use of a particular laser input fileis allowed, the laser can request an authorization check from anexternal server with respect to that laser input file. For example, thelaser input file may contain copyrighted images or trademarks of anothercompany.

FIGS. 56-69 show screens for an ordering flow and options available viathe Future Finish Web site for customizing and ordering a men's pair ofjeans.

FIGS. 70-89 show screens for an ordering flow and options available viathe Future Finish Web site for customizing and ordering a women's pairof jeans.

After an order is created, the order is sent to a laser finishing centerfor manufacture. At the laser finishing center, an operator or automaton(e.g., robot) will select the appropriate base template with selectedsundries (e.g., selected labeling). The appropriate laser input file isselected and lasered onto the garment. The laser input file may havebeen generated using the pattern resize tool, especially when theordered size is not the same as the original size (e.g., 32×32) providedto the resize tool. The damage will also be lasered onto the garment,and typically be done at the same time the finishing is being lasered.

The following figures include screens of a customization and orderingtool for men's jeans, executing on a personal computer using a Webbrowser, such as Mozilla Firefox® Web browser. Firefox is a trademark ofMozilla Foundation.

FIG. 56 shows a screen for selecting a fabric base.

FIGS. 57-58 show screens for selecting a denim shade for the selectedfabric base. The selected fabric base may include a wash or a lighter ordarker denim. For example, an option is for denim shade is “IndigoNight.”

FIG. 59 shows a screen for selecting a finish to apply to the selectedbase. The options can include a number of patterns for selection. Forexample, the screen shows five different laser finishes includingnaturally worn, bandana, logo, camo, or leopard. The naturally wornpattern is a pattern that is presently selected. A user may viewswatches of the different pattern options available and select a desiredpattern. A three-dimensional preview of the selected fabric base withselected option is shown on the screen. The preview may be rotated by auser by clicking and dragging the model or by selecting indictors (e.g.,arrows, signs, markings) so that details of the model from differentangles are shown.

FIG. 60 shows a screen for selecting a bandana pattern for the selectedfabric base. A preview of the jeans garment with bandana pattern on theselected fabric base is shown on the screen.

FIG. 61 shows a screen for selected a lived-in characteristic for thegarment. The lived in characteristic may be a wear for the selectedfabric base. There are four lived-in options including none, worn,damaged, and destructed. Lived-in options may be sequenced on the screenby each option with progressively greater wear and damage for thefinished product. The none option is selected on this screen. A previewof the jeans with selected options is shown on the screen.

FIG. 62 shows another screen for selecting the lived-in characteristicfor the jeans. The worn option is selected, for which a preview isdisplayed on the screen. For a worn option, small rips near pockets anda knee area of the jeans are shown on the model.

FIG. 63 shows a screen for selecting the lived-in characteristic for thejeans. The damaged option is selected, for which a preview is displayedon the screen. For the damaged option, small rips near pockets andlarger stressed areas near both knee areas of the jeans are shown on themodel.

FIG. 64 shows a screen for selecting the lived-in characteristic for thejeans. The destructed option is selected, for which a preview isdisplayed on the screen. For the destructed option, larger portions ofthe knee areas are stressed and shown on the model.

FIG. 65 shows a screen for selecting a tint color for the selectedfabric base. The screen shows three different tints including none,black, or midnight. Other tints may be available in otherimplementations, such as a rose tint. The none option is selected. Apreview of the jeans with the selected tint is shown on the screen. Thejeans in the preview may be rotated by a user by clicking and draggingthe model or by selecting indictors (e.g., arrows, signs, markings) sothat details of the preview from different angles are shown.

FIG. 66 shows another screen for selecting the tint color for theselected fabric base in the black wash option. A preview of the jeanswith this option is shown on the screen.

FIG. 67 shows another screen for selecting the tint color for theselected fabric base in the midnight option. A preview of the jeans withthis option is shown on the screen.

FIG. 68 shows a screen for selecting a back patch for jeans. A previewof the jeans with selected patch is shown on the screen. The preview canbe rotated so that the label or back patch of the jeans is shown. Theordering tool may include a number of back patch colors for selection.For example, the screen shows blue, yellow, orange, pink, green, ortraditional leather options. The leather option is selected.

FIG. 69 shows another screen for selecting the patch color for theselected fabric base in the pink option. A preview of the jeans withthis selected patch is shown on the screen.

FIGS. 70-89 include screens of a customization and ordering tool forwomen's jeans, executing on a personal computer using a Web browser suchas Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. These screens are similar to thatas described above for customizing men's jeans, except these are forwomen's styles and fits.

FIGS. 70-72 show screens for selecting a fabric base.

FIG. 73 shows a screen for selecting a denim shade for the selectedfabric base.

FIG. 74 shows a screen for selecting a pattern for the selected fabricbase with the naturally worn option selected.

FIG. 75 shows a screen for selecting a pattern for the selected fabricbase with the camo option selected.

FIG. 76 shows a screen for selecting a lived-in characteristic for thegarment with the none option selected.

FIG. 77 shows a screen for selecting a lived-in characteristic for thegarment with the destructed option selected.

FIG. 78 shows a screen for selecting a tint color for the selectedfabric base with the none option selected.

FIG. 79 shows a screen for selecting a tint color for the selectedfabric base with the black wash option selected.

FIG. 80 shows a screen for selecting a tint color for the selectedfabric base with the midnight option selected.

FIG. 81 shows a screen for selecting a back patch for jeans with theleather option selected.

FIG. 82 shows a screen for selecting a back patch for jeans with theyellow option selected.

FIG. 83 shows a screen for a size or fit guide.

FIG. 84 shows a screen with a drop-down menu for selecting a size (e.g.,waist and length). This drop down menu also gives an indication ofwhether a particular size is in-stock or out-of-stock.

FIG. 85 shows a screen with a drop-down menu for selecting a quantity(e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6).

FIG. 86 shows a screen for an item added to shopping bag (e.g., shoppingcart). There is a pop-up window that shows an image of the jeans, thesize selected, the customization the user selected (e.g., camo pattern,yellow patch, destructed damage), quantity, subtotal price (e.g., $148),and a checkout button. Via the checkout button, the user will be broughtto screen where the user can pay (e.g., payment by credit card) and theuser can enter an address where the customized garment will be sent.

FIG. 87 shows a screen to save a design. After the design is saved, theuser will be later be able to login to the user's account and retrievethis design. The save customized design can be reordered, or the usercan user the old design as a starting point for a new design (e.g.,modifying the previously saved design to obtain a new customizeddesign).

FIG. 88 shows a screen of a shopping bag.

FIG. 89 shows a screen asking to save a design.

FIGS. 90-99 relate to a pattern resize tool. From a given laser inputfile (e.g., 32×32 regular fit jeans), this tool generates laser inputfiles for a variety of sizes and fits. The generated laser input filesare for sizes smaller (e.g., 30×30 jeans) and larger (e.g., 36×34) thanthe size of the given input file. And the fits can be larger (e.g.,relaxed or oversized) or smaller (e.g., slim or tapered) compared to thefit of the given input file.

A pattern resize tool allows a user to take a laser input image andscale between garment sizes and styles based on user selection. The toolallows a user to record a mapping of sizes and styles then use thatmapping on an ongoing basis to scale input images anywhere within themapping space. The tool then saves the resulting files in a structurethat will feed directly into a user interface for a specialized fileconversion for manufacturing equipment.

Laser finishing is a process where a garment can have style elementsadded to it through the input of a manufacturing image to a piece oflaser equipment. These input images can take hours or days to generate.Traditionally a user might need to create individual input images foreach style and size of garment. The challenge in increased furtherbecause the magnitude of the image resizing is not constant over theentire image, each zone or region of the garment may have its ownscaling behavior.

This tool allows a user to perform these scaling operations in anautomated way with minimal user input with only a single input image.This is true across all sizes and styles so long as the style scaling ofthe selected garments has been mapped previously. This document coversboth the mapping of the garment styles as well as the resizing of theinput image or images.

FIG. 90 shows the mapping process. Showing user point select, automatedzone measurements and functional mappings.

FIGS. 91-92 show a graphical user interface for selecting input andoutput parameters needed for the resize tool

FIG. 93 shows an example of a user input which gives a location of alandmark on the input image.

FIGS. 94-96 show examples of scaling to various sizes within a style.The process can also be performed across styles.

FIGS. 97-98 show the output file structure that will be used to convertto the vendor specific file format and image groupings with defaultsettings dependent file structure.

FIG. 99 shows a block diagram showing a first technique and a secondtechnique for resizing.

In an automated resizing technique, laser input files are provided for aparticular size of a garment, such as jeans or pants. For example, thelaser input file may be for a jeans size of 32 by 32 (or 32×32), whichrepresents a 32 waist size and 32 inseam length size. With this laserinput file, the pattern resize tool automatically generates the laserinput files for other desired or specified sizes, such as 30×30, 29×30,36×32, 38×34, 44×32, and others.

Referring FIG. 90 , in a first step, size and style (or fit) mapping ofgarments is performed. Different styles or fits refer to a garment'sfit, such as regular, relaxed, slim, boyfriend, boot cut, and others.For a good mapping, the garments should range in size in fit toencompass the desired sizes.

In an implementation, each and every garment size and style are providedfor mapping. This implementation would result in very precise resizingsof the laser input files since each and every size is measured andknown.

In an implementation, selected garment sizes and styles are provided formapping. For example in FIG. 1 , three different sizes (e.g., size 1,size 2, and size 3) and three different styles (e.g., style 1, style 2,and style 3) are used to perform a mapping. This implementation'smapping may be somewhat less precise than the previously describedimplementation since each and every garment size and style is notprovided. Any missing garment sizing and styling data can be estimatedor approximated by an estimation or calculation, such as byinterpolation.

To form the mapping, measurements are made of a particular garment. Thepoints for measurements can be automatically determined by computeridentification, user selecting the points, or a combination. There aretwo types of points for selection, calibration points (e.g., indicatedin blue) and measurement points (e.g., indicated in red, a differentcolor than that used for the calibration points). The calibration pointscan be points not at edges of the pants, but on the machine or handlerholding the pants. The measurement points are

The measurement points selected include a crotch point, block points(e.g., points above the crotch), and inseam points (e.g., points belowthe crotch). Then based on these points, zone measurements are made.There are first and second lines from the crotch point that extend tothe edges of the pants. There are third and fourth lines that extendtransverse to the first and second lines in a direction away from thecrotch toward the bottom of the pants. There are fifth and sixth linesthat extend transverse to the first and second lines in a direction awayfrom the crotch toward the top or waist of the pants. Using these zonemeasurements, scaling factors are determined, which will be used inscaling the laser input files.

FIGS. 91-92 show a user interface through which a user can select theinput file information and the desired output for the resizing tool. Theinterfaces show in these two figures can be combined and output onto asingle computer screen, or can be displayed on multiple computer screensor sequence of screens, such as two or more screens.

FIG. 93 shows an example of a user input which gives a location of alandmark on the input image.

FIGS. 94-96 show examples of scaling to various sizes within a style.The process can also be performed across styles.

FIGS. 97-98 show the output file structure that will be used to convertto the vendor specific file format and image groupings with defaultsettings dependent file structure. The laser input files are in BMPformat and stored in directory tree structure so they can be searchedfor and retrieved later. In other implementations, the output files canbe stored in a database.

FIG. 99 shows a block diagram showing a first technique or process and asecond technique or process for resizing. In the first technique, thesoftware determines scaling ratios, applies scaling, applies filtering,positions the pattern, and creates a .JEAN file, which is similar toimage file used by a laser machine.

Tables B-D below present pseudocode computer program listings for aspecific implementation of a pattern resizing tool.

TABLE B RESIZE MAPPING CREATION FUNCTION: Measure XY (PatternDirectory): READ: Size and Style Images DISPLAY: Image to user and allowfor the selection of specific pattern points SELECTION: Of requestedpoints by user (these allow for calibration and measurement) RECORD:User selection of pattern points SAVE: point selection to data fileFUNCTION: Pattern Analyzer (Measure XY data file): READ: Measure XY datafile CALCULATE: Dimensions of required scaling zones from recorded imagex and y data CACLULATE: Function approximation for scaling between sizesand styles SAVE: Function parameters for use in resize tool

TABLE C RESIZE TOOL GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FUNCTION: View Controller(User Interface Parameters): CREATE: Selection variables required forresize tool. To include all input and desired output variables (inputfile names, sizes, fits, parameter options) DISPLAY: Formatted form touser with all fields meant for input and output selections displayed.Allow the user to progress only when all required fields are selected.Display error messages to inform user of missing elements. RECORD: Alluser selections for input and output variables. Automatically namingfiles according to the operations being performed on them. FUNCTION:Submit Form ( ) SAVE: A record of all selected user Settings RUN: Resizealgorithm described below

TABLE D RESIZE TOOL RESIZE ALGORITHM READ: input files parameters fromrecorded graphical user interface settings SET: (Front Left Files, BackLeft Files, Front Right Files, Back Right Files, File Options, CurrentFit, Current Waist, Current Inseam, Output Fits, Output Waists, OutputInseams, Control Name) FUNCTION: Resize (Front Left Files, Back LeftFiles, Front Right Files, Back Right Files, File Options, Current Fit,Current Waist, Current Inseam, Output Fits, Output Waists, OutputInseams, Control Nam): ASSIGN: Troubleshooting developer options CHECK:Input parameters for proper formatting report if necessary CHECK:Troubleshooting developer options output reports if necessary FUNCTION:Scale Images (File List): SETUP: Plotting object to allow user to selectsplit point on pattern IMPORT: file being resized PLOT: Image beingscaled so that user can use split point selection IMPORT: mappings offits and size functions parameters SPLIT: image into its regions so theycan be scaled individually APPLY: scaling options selected by user (i.e.width only/back knee) PERFORM: scaling operation on each region usingimported function parameters RECONTRUCT: full image from componentregions after scaling CHECK: Troubleshooting developer options outputreports if necessary WRITE: Scaled images to output directory structuredfor file conversion SET: Required file meta-data RUN: Scale images(front left Images, front left settings, control file) RUN: Scale images(back left Images, back left settings, control file) RUN: Scale images(front right Images, front right settings, control file) RUN: Scaleimages (back right Images, back right settings, control file) RUN:Resize (Front Left Files, Back Left Files, Front Right Files, Back RightFiles, File Options, Current Fit, Current Waist, Current Inseam, OutputFits, Output Waists, Output Inseams, Control Name)

In an implementation, a method includes: providing a garment designtool, accessible via a Web browser or executing in a Web browser, thatshows in a window of the Web browser of a three-dimensional previewimage of a garment design as customized by a user with a finishingpattern; in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user toselect a garment base and upon the user's selection, showing in a windowof the Web browser a first preview image of the selected garmenttemplate; in the garment design tool, providing an option for the userto select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns and upon theuser's selection, showing on a window of the Web browser a secondpreview image of the selected garment template with the selected wearpattern, where each wear pattern is associated with a laser input fileto be used by a laser to produce that wear pattern onto a garment; at aserver, merging a laser input file associated with the selected wearpattern with an image of the selected garment template to generate amerged image; and from the server, receiving the merged image to the Webbrowser, where the garment design tool shows the merged image as thesecond preview image.

The merged image can be generated by: generating an adjusted base imagefrom the image of the selected garment template without the selectedwear pattern; generating a pattern mask based on the laser input fileassociated with the selected wear pattern; for a pixel at a pixellocation of the merged image, obtaining a first contribution for thepixel location of the merged image by combining a first value for apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selectedgarment template without the selected wear pattern; for the pixel at thepixel location of the merged image, obtaining a second contribution atthe pixel location for the merged image by combining a second value fora pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image;combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain acolor value for a pixel at the pixel location for the second previewimage; and using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location inthe merged image.

In various implementations, the method includes allowing the user tochange a point (e.g., vantage point, view point, or point of view) fromwhich the three-dimensional preview image of the garment design isviewed. The method includes allowing the user to rotate thethree-dimensional preview image of the garment design. The userinterface for rotating the three-dimensional preview image is via theWeb browser. The garment design can be for at least one of a pair ofpants, jeans, or shorts.

The generating a pattern mask based on the laser input file can includegenerating an inverse image of the laser input file. The firstcontribution includes a first percentage of the image of the selectedgarment template that passes to the merged image, and the secondcontribution includes a second percentage of the adjusted base imagethat passes to the merged image. A sum of the first percentage and thesecond percentage is 100.

For the first contribution, the combining includes a multiply operationof the first value for pixel corresponding to pixel location for thepattern mask and the pixel corresponding to the pixel location for theimage of the selected garment template without the selected wearpattern. For the second contribution, the combining includes a multiplyoperation of the second value for the pixel corresponding to the pixellocation for the pattern mask and the pixel corresponding to the pixellocation for the adjusted base image.

The merged image can be received at the Web browser over an end-to-endencrypted channel between the server and a client on which the Webbrowser is executing.

The method can include: saving the garment design as customized by auser with the selected garment template; and based on the laser inputfile associated with the selected wear pattern, using a laser to createa finishing pattern on an outer surface of the a target garmentcorresponding to the selected garment template.

Based on the laser input file, the laser removes selected amounts ofmaterial from the surface of a material of the target garment atdifferent pixel locations of the garment, and for lighter pixellocations of the finishing pattern, a greater amount of the indigoring-dyed cotton warp yarn is removed, while for darker pixel locationsof the finishing pattern, a lesser amount of the indigo ring-dyed cottonwarp yarn is removed.

The method can include: in the garment design tool, providing an optionfor the user to select a first level of wear or a second level of wear;after the first level of wear is selected, showing on a window of theWeb browser a third preview image of the selected garment template withthe first level of wear; and after the second level of wear is selected,showing on a window of the Web browser a fourth preview image of theselected garment template with the second level of wear, where thefourth preview image includes a first damage asset positioned on thegarment template, the damage asset includes a hole or emerging hole

The first damage asset can be created by: creating a first damage shapeand associating the first damage asset with the first damage shape;based on the first damage shape, using a laser to create the firstdamage asset on a fabric; after a postlaser wash of the fabric withfirst damage asset, capturing an image of the first damage asset on thefabric; and using the image of the first damage asset in the fourthpreview image.

The third preview image of the selected garment template with the firstlevel of wear does not include the first damage asset. The fourthpreview image of the selected garment template with the second level ofwear includes a greater number of damages assets than in the thirdpreview image of the selected garment template with the first level ofwear. The fourth preview image of the selected garment template with thesecond level of wear includes at least one damage asset having a greaterarea than for any damage asset in the third preview image of theselected garment template with the first level of wear.

In the third preview image, an opacity of an edge of the image of thefirst damage asset is reduced to blend the image of the first damageasset with the garment template.

The method includes: saving the garment design as customized by a userwith the selected garment template and selected level of wear; and basedon a laser input file associated with the selected level of wear, usinga laser to create a finishing pattern on an outer surface of the atarget garment corresponding to the selected garment template.

The three-dimensional preview image of the garment design can be createdby: deconstructing a garment corresponding to a garment template;capturing images of the deconstructed pattern pieces; extacting shadowneutral digital pattern pieces; creating a shadow neutral texture;mapping the shadow neutral texture to a three-dimensional model of thegarment as worn by a person; applying simulated light and shadowing tothe three-dimensionally mapped shadow neutral texture; and using thethree-dimensionally mapped shadow neutral texture as thethree-dimensional preview image.

The method can include: saving the garment design as customized by auser with the selected garment template and selected level of wear;providing a first laser file with a wear pattern for a first size andfirst style; automatically generating a number of laser files (e.g., aset of laser files) with the wear pattern for a number of sizes andstyles, different from the first size and first style; and based on alaser input file associated with the selected wear pattern and theselected level of wear and a size as selected by the user, using thesecond laser input file with a laser to create a finishing pattern on anouter surface of the a target garment corresponding to the selectedgarment template and of the size selected by the user.

The automatically generating can include: scaling a first zone of thefirst laser file according to a first scaling factor; scaling a secondzone of the first laser file according to a second scaling factor,different from the first scaling factor; and storing the first laserfile with the scaled first zone and scaled second zone as a second laserfile for a second size and first style. When the garment is a pair ofpants, the first zone corresponds to a region of the pants above acrotch point of the pant, and the second zone corresponds to a region ofthe pants below a crotch point of the pants.

In an implementation, a method includes: providing a garment design toolthat shows on a computer screen of a three-dimensional preview image ofa garment design as customized by a user with a finishing pattern; inthe garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select agarment base and upon the user's selection, showing on the computerscreen a first preview image of the selected garment template; in thegarment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a firstlevel of wear or a second level of wear; after the first level of wearis selected, showing on the computer screen a second preview image ofthe selected garment template with the first level of wear; and afterthe second level of wear is selected, showing on the computer screen athird preview image of the selected garment template with the secondlevel of wear, where the third preview image includes a first damageasset positioned on the garment template, the damage asset includes ahole, tear, rip, or emerging hole.

The first damage asset can created by: creating a first damage shape andassociating the first damage asset with the first damage shape; based onthe first damage shape, using a laser to create the first damage asseton a fabric; after a postlaser wash of the fabric with first damageasset, capturing an image of the first damage asset on the fabric; andusing the image of the first damage asset in the third preview image.

Some implementations have been presented, but it should be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the specific flow and stepspresented. An implementation of the invention may have additional stepsor components (not necessarily described in this application), differentsteps (or techniques) which replace some of the steps presented, fewersteps or a subset of the steps presented, or steps in a different orderthan presented, or any combination of these. Components or elements ofthe implementations discussed above may be combined in any combination.Further, the steps in some implementations of the invention may not beexactly the same as the steps presented and may be modified or alteredas appropriate for a particular application or based on the data.

This description of the invention has been presented for the purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise form described, and manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the teachingabove. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical applications.This description will enable others skilled in the art to best utilizeand practice the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to a particular use. The scope of theinvention is defined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing a garmentdesign tool that shows on a computer screen of a three-dimensionalpreview image of a garment design as customized by a user with afinishing pattern; in the garment design tool, providing an option forthe user to select a garment base and upon the user's selection, showingon the computer screen a first preview image of the selected garmenttemplate; in the garment design tool, providing an option for the userto select a first level of wear or a second level of wear; after thefirst level of wear is selected, showing on the computer screen a secondpreview image of the selected garment template with the first level ofwear; after the second level of wear is selected, showing on thecomputer screen a third preview image of the selected garment templatewith the second level of wear, wherein the third preview image comprisesa first damage asset positioned on the garment template, the damageasset comprises a hole or emerging hole, and the first damage asset iscreated by creating a first damage shape and associating the firstdamage asset with the first damage shape, based on the first damageshape, using a laser to create the first damage asset on a fabric, aftera postlaser wash of the fabric with first damage asset, capturing animage of the first damage asset on the fabric, and using the image ofthe first damage asset in the third preview image; and in the garmentdesign tool, providing an option for the user to select a wear patternfrom a menu of wear patterns and upon the user's selection, showing onthe computer screen a fourth preview image of the selected garmenttemplate with the selected wear pattern, wherein each wear pattern isassociated with a laser input file to be used by a laser to produce thatwear pattern onto a garment, wherein the garment design tool isexecuting at a client, and the method comprises: at a server, merging alaser input file associated with the selected wear pattern with an imageof the selected garment template to generate a merged image; and fromthe server, sending the merged image to the client device, wherein thegarment design tool shows the merged image as the fourth preview image,wherein the merged image is generated by generating an adjusted baseimage from the image of the selected garment template without theselected wear pattern, generating a pattern mask based on the laserinput file associated with the selected wear pattern, for a pixel at apixel location of the merged image, obtaining a first contribution forthe pixel location of the merged image by combining a first value for apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selectedgarment template without the selected wear pattern, for the pixel at thepixel location of the merged image, obtaining a second contribution atthe pixel location for the merged image by combining a second value fora pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and apixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image,combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain acolor value for a pixel at the pixel location for the second previewimage, and using the color value for the pixel at the pixel location inthe merged image.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating apattern mask based on the laser input file comprises: generating aninverse image of the laser input file.
 3. The method of claim 1 whereinthe first contribution comprises a first percentage of the image of theselected garment template that passes to the merged image, and thesecond contribution comprises a second percentage of the adjusted baseimage that passes to the merged image.
 4. The method of claim 3 whereina sum of the first percentage and the second percentage is
 100. 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein for the first contribution, the combiningcomprises a multiply operation of the first value for pixelcorresponding to pixel location for the pattern mask and the pixelcorresponding to the pixel location for the image of the selectedgarment template without the selected wear pattern.
 6. The method ofclaim 1 wherein for the second contribution, the combining comprises amultiply operation of the second value for the pixel corresponding tothe pixel location for the pattern mask and the pixel corresponding tothe pixel location for the adjusted base image.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein the garment design tool is executing at a client, and the methodcomprises: from a server, sending a laser input file associated with theselected wear pattern to the client over an end-to-end encryptedchannel; and at the client, combining an image of the selected garmentwith the laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern, andusing the combined image as the fourth preview image.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 comprising: saving the garment design as customized by a userwith the selected garment template and selected level of wear; based ona laser input file associated with the selected level of wear, using alaser to create a finishing pattern on an outer surface of a targetgarment corresponding to the selected garment template.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 comprising: saving the garment design as customized by a userwith the selected garment template and selected level of wear; based ona laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern and theselected level of wear, using a laser to create a finishing pattern onan outer surface of a target garment corresponding to the selectedgarment template.
 10. A method comprising: providing a garment designtool that shows on a computer screen of a three-dimensional previewimage of a garment design as customized by a user with a finishingpattern; in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user toselect a garment base and upon the user's selection, showing on thecomputer screen a first preview image of the selected garment template;in the garment design tool, providing an option for the user to select afirst level of wear or a second level of wear; after the first level ofwear is selected, showing on the computer screen a second preview imageof the selected garment template with the first level of wear; after thesecond level of wear is selected, showing on the computer screen a thirdpreview image of the selected garment template with the second level ofwear, wherein the third preview image comprises a first damage assetpositioned on the garment template, the damage asset comprises a hole oremerging hole, and the first damage asset is created by creating a firstdamage shape and associating the first damage asset with the firstdamage shape, based on the first damage shape, using a laser to createthe first damage asset on a fabric, after a postlaser wash of the fabricwith first damage asset, capturing an image of the first damage asset onthe fabric, and using the image of the first damage asset in the thirdpreview image; in the garment design tool, providing an option for theuser to select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns and upon theuser's selection, showing on the computer screen a fourth preview imageof the selected garment template with the selected wear pattern, whereineach wear pattern is associated with a laser input file to be used by alaser to produce that wear pattern onto a garment; saving the garmentdesign as customized by a user with the selected garment template andselected level of wear; and based on a laser input file associated withthe selected wear pattern and the selected level of wear, using a laserto create a finishing pattern on an outer surface of a target garmentcorresponding to the selected garment template, wherein based on thelaser input file, the laser removes selected amounts of material fromthe surface of a material of the target garment at different pixellocations of the garment, and for lighter pixel locations of thefinishing pattern, a greater amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warpyarn is removed, while for darker pixel locations of the finishingpattern, a lesser amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warp yarn isremoved.
 11. A method comprising: providing a garment design tool thatshows on a computer screen of a three-dimensional preview image of agarment design as customized by a user with a finishing pattern; in thegarment design tool, providing an option for the user to select agarment base and upon the user's selection, showing on the computerscreen a first preview image of the selected garment template; in thegarment design tool, providing an option for the user to select a firstlevel of wear or a second level of wear; after the first level of wearis selected, showing on the computer screen a second preview image ofthe selected garment template with the first level of wear; and afterthe second level of wear is selected, showing on the computer screen athird preview image of the selected garment template with the secondlevel of wear, wherein the third preview image comprises a first damageasset positioned on the garment template, the damage asset comprises ahole or emerging hole, and the first damage asset is created by creatinga first damage shape and associating the first damage asset with thefirst damage shape, based on the first damage shape, using a laser tocreate the first damage asset on a fabric, after a postlaser wash of thefabric with the first damage asset, capturing an image of the firstdamage asset on the fabric, and using the image of the first damageasset in the third preview image, wherein the three-dimensional previewimage of the garment design is created by deconstructing a garmentcorresponding to a garment template; capturing images of thedeconstructed pattern pieces; extracting shadow neutral digital patternpieces; creating a shadow neutral texture; mapping the shadow neutraltexture to a three-dimensional model of the garment as worn by a person;applying simulated light and shadowing to the three-dimensionally mappedshadow neutral texture; and using the three-dimensionally mapped shadowneutral texture as the three-dimensional preview image.
 12. The methodof claim 11 wherein the garment is a pair of pants.
 13. A methodcomprising: providing a garment design tool that shows on a computerscreen of a three-dimensional preview image of a garment design ascustomized by a user with a finishing pattern; in the garment designtool, providing an option for the user to select a garment base and uponthe user's selection, showing on the computer screen a first previewimage of the selected garment template; in the garment design tool,providing an option for the user to select a first level of wear or asecond level of wear; after the first level of wear is selected, showingon the computer screen a second preview image of the selected garmenttemplate with the first level of wear; after the second level of wear isselected, showing on the computer screen a third preview image of theselected garment template with the second level of wear, wherein thethird preview image comprises a first damage asset positioned on thegarment template, the damage asset comprises a hole or emerging hole,and the first damage asset is created by creating a first damage shapeand associating the first damage asset with the first damage shape,based on the first damage shape, using a laser to create the firstdamage asset on a fabric, after a postlaser wash of the fabric withfirst damage asset, capturing an image of the first damage asset on thefabric, and using the image of the first damage asset in the thirdpreview image; saving the garment design as customized by a user withthe selected garment template and selected level of wear; providing afirst laser file with a wear pattern for a first size and first style;automatically generating a plurality of laser files with the wearpattern for a plurality of sizes and styles, different from the firstsize and first style, wherein the automatically generating comprisesscaling a first zone of the first laser file according to a firstscaling factor; scaling a second zone of the first laser file accordingto a second scaling factor, different from the first scaling factor; andstoring the first laser file with the scaled first zone and scaledsecond zone as a second laser file for a second size and first style;based on a laser input file associated with the selected wear patternand the selected level of wear and a size as selected by the user, usingthe second laser input file with a laser to create a finishing patternon an outer surface of a target garment corresponding to the selectedgarment template and of the size selected by the user.
 14. The method ofclaim 13 wherein the garment is a pair of pants, the first zonecorresponds to a region of the pants above a crotch point of the pant,and the second zone corresponds to a region of the pants below a crotchpoint of the pants.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the secondpreview image of the selected garment template with the first level ofwear does not comprise the first damage asset.
 16. The method of claim13 wherein the third preview image of the selected garment template withthe second level of wear comprises a greater number of damages assetsthan in the second preview image of the selected garment template withthe first level of wear.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein the thirdpreview image of the selected garment template with the second level ofwear comprises at least one damage asset having a greater area than forany damage asset in the second preview image of the selected garmenttemplate with the first level of wear.
 18. The method of claim 13comprising: allowing the user to change a point from which thethree-dimensional preview image of the garment design is viewed.
 19. Themethod of claim 13 wherein the garment design comprises a design for atleast one of a pair of pants, jeans, or shorts.
 20. The method of claim13 wherein in the third preview image, an opacity of an edge of theimage of the first damage asset is reduced to blend the image of thefirst damage asset with the garment template.
 21. The method of claim 13wherein the damage asset comprises a rip.
 22. The method of claim 13comprising: in the garment design tool, providing an option for the userto select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns and upon theuser's selection, showing on the computer screen a fourth preview imageof the selected garment template with the selected wear pattern, whereineach wear pattern is associated with a laser input file to be used by alaser to produce that wear pattern onto a garment.
 23. The method ofclaim 22 wherein the garment design tool is executing at a client, andthe method comprises: at a server, merging a laser input file associatedwith the selected wear pattern with an image of the selected garmenttemplate to generate a merged image; and from the server, sending themerged image to the client device, wherein the garment design tool showsthe merged image as the fourth preview image.